Mike Balow: Resisting MSU's Crackdown on Dissent
About this episode
Mike Balow discusses the controversy surrounding Michigan State University's new trustee code of ethics and his opposition to the loyalty pledge.
ACTA's Nick Down interviews Michigan State University (MSU) Board of Trustees member Mike Balow . The aftermath of an emergency meeting to revise MSU's trustee code of ethics has embroiled the Board in controversy. The revised ethics code includes a "loyalty pledge" that limits trustee speech, with threats to sanction and publicly censure any trustee who refuse to sign . Trustee Balow and one colleague refused to sign the loyalty pledge. Since then, the dissenting trustees ha ve faced intense public pressure , including doxxing and social media threats . Trustee Balow tells his side of the story of what really happened at the emergency meeting, and why he categorically opposes the new mandate . Note: Since this recording , MSU president Kevin Guskiewicz has reversed his decision to depart MSU and will remain on as the university's president.
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