With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Cal State Fullerton Severs Ties With Its Biggest Donor Over Alleged Unethical Requests
Students return to campus on the first Monday of classes of the Fall 2016 semester. (Stock photo by Matthew Gush/Courtesy of CSU Fullerton/Flickr Creative Commons)
()
Cal State Fullerton said it’s severed ties with its biggest donor, Steven Mihaylo, a college alum who runs a telecommunications company based in Tempe, Arizona.
In 2004, Mihaylo gave the university over $4 million to build its new business school. Three years later he promised $30 million, Cal State Fullerton’s biggest donation to date. The university named the building and business school after Mihaylo and put up a statue of him.
On Wednesday, in a press release, the university said Mihaylo would only release $22 million of the donation if the university bought equipment from his company and hired Republican professors.
Cal State Fullerton President Fram Virjee said he told Mihaylo that would be unethical and possibly illegal.
Support for LAist comes from
Mihaylo denied that he requested the purchase from his company, and said he withheld the donation because the university promised to defend conservative views like his and was stifling free speech.
In the meantime, Cal State Fullerton has removed Mihaylo’s statue and name from the business school, but kept his name on the building.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
Best of LAist