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Podcasts | Trusteeship

Mike Balow: Resisting MSU’s Crackdown on Dissent

July 15, 2026

ACTA’s Nick Down interviews Michigan State University (MSU) Board of Trustees member Mike Balow. MSU has been embroiled in a controversy over a sudden revision to its trustee code of ethics that involved the signing of a loyalty pledge that would limit trustee speech, as well as threats to sanction and publicly censure any trustee who refuses to sign. The revised code passed 5-3, with Balow and two other trustees in dissent. Since then, the dissenting trustees have faced censure and public pressure to resign, as well as doxxing and threats on social media. Trustee Balow tells his side of the story of what really happened at the emergency meeting to pass the revised ethics code, and why he categorically opposes it. 

Note: When this podcast was recorded, MSU president Kevin Guskiewicz had announced his imminent departure from the university. He has since reversed course and chosen to stay at MSU. 

Note: Please check any quotations against the audio recording. A transcript is available upon request. The views expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and may not necessarily reflect those of ACTA.

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