(MPRN-Lansing) Michigan State University must release the names of student athletes named as suspects in police reports to news organizations under a decision by the state Michigan Supreme Court.
ESPN requested the names under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act for a series on whether college athletes suspected of crimes are given preferential treatment. MSU supplied redacted campus police reports, but refused to release the names of 301 student-athletes who were not formally charged as an unwarranted invasion of privacy.
MSU lost in both the Ingham County Circuit Court and the Michigan Court of Appeals, which said the case was a matter of legitimate public concern. The state Supreme Court refused to take the case, which left the lower court decisions standing.
MSU released this statement following the decision:
“MSU is disappointed that the state Supreme Court chose not to hear our appeal. We believe there were legitimate privacy concerns raised in this case, and we would have welcomed the opportunity to present them to the Court. That being said, we will abide by the decision and will fulfill ESPN’s FOIA request as stipulated by the Court of Appeals ruling from August 2015.”
Justice Stephen Markman dissented from the decision to refuse the case.
