On Feb. 4, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a federal lawsuit against the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). The lawsuit is based on a complaint from an anonymous whistleblower that claims MSHSAA discriminated against him.
In a press release the Attorney General states, “official MSHSAA policy ties eligibility for its two at-large Board seats to race and sex, restricting those positions to candidates representing the ‘under-represented gender’ or an ‘under-represented ethnicity.’”
In addition, Hanaway said, “any organization taking taxpayer money ought to know the rules — and follow them.” However, this claim is not true. MSHSAA is a non-profit organization that self-funds via ticket sales, sponsorships, and registration fees. In a press release, MSHSAA responded to the Attorney General on Feb. 5, saying the organization does not receive money from the state and was individually created.
“Missouri did not create MSHSAA, does not fund it, and does not oversee its operations. Nonetheless, the state now asks a federal court to dictate who may serve on MSHSAA’s volunteer Board of Directors,” as announced in the public statement.
MSHSAA believes that this is an overreach of state power and raises concerns that this may lead to the state governing private organizations.
“This lawsuit represents a fundamental threat to the system of interscholastic activities as it has existed for generations. If the state succeeds in asserting control over a private organization it neither created nor funds, it would fundamentally alter high school athletics and activities in Missouri,” MSHSAA stated in a press release.
Not only is the Attorney General feuding with MSHSAA, but so is the Missouri Senate. The Senate proposed Bill 863 that, if passed, would allow the Attorney General full power to appoint individuals to MSHSAA’s board of directors. The bill states that any non-profit, statewide organization facilitating interscholastic activities for public high schools that requires members to pay a fee shall be overseen by a board of directors chosen by the Attorney General.
