# Brickbat: A Lack of Trustee

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/brickbat-a-lack-of-trustee/
- Published: 2026-11-04T09:00:39+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T03:08:22+00:00
- Original publisher: Reason (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://reason.com/2026/11/04/brickbat-a-lack-of-trustee/
- Topics: Politics

## Key points

- Mike Balow is challenging Michigan State’s trustee ethics code in federal court.
- The code restricts public criticism of board majority decisions.
- Balow wants the code declared unconstitutional and its enforcement stopped.

## Summary

Michigan State University trustee Mike Balow has sued the board’s chair and secretary, arguing that the university’s revised ethics code violates his First Amendment rights. The case concerns whether trustees can be required to support the university’s official positions and barred from publicly criticising decisions by the board majority, potentially limiting independent oversight.

Adopted in May, the code was refused by Balow and fellow trustee Rema Vassar, who were censured in June and lost some board privileges. Balow says the rules allow praise of university leaders while penalising criticism. He has previously questioned the university’s handling of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal, and is asking a federal court to declare the code unconstitutional and stop its enforcement.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.