On October 17, 2024, The Buckeye Institute issued a final letter to the University of Michigan, referred to as "That School Up North," demanding compliance with a freedom of information request. The institute seeks immediate access to specific documents and has threatened legal action if the university does not comply with Michigan law.
The Buckeye Institute is pressing for transparency regarding the criteria used by accreditors of the university's law and medical schools. This follows the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which stated that universities cannot use race as a basis for student admissions under the equal protection clause and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The documents requested include those related to the University of Michigan School of Law’s American Bar Association (ABA) accredited status, materials provided to maintain this status, and correspondence between the university and ABA. Similarly, documents concerning the University of Michigan Medical School’s Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited status are also sought.
"The Buckeye Institute hopes that unlike on the gridiron, Michigan will not attempt to cheat its way out of following the law," reads part of their statement.