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University of Minnesota suspends donor discussions linked to Fairview merger

April 8, 2013 at 3:07AM
(McKenna Ewen/McKenna Ewen)

The University of Minnesota has suspended discussions with donors linked to the potential merger of the Fairview Health Systems with Sanford Health of South Dakota until the future of the U Medical Center is resolved.

The moratorium would cover any potential gifts from T. Denny Sanford, a wealthy alumnus who has been courted heavily for major contributions to the Golden Gopher athletic fund. Sanford is a prominent figure at Sanford Health, which he launched in 2007 with a $400 million donation.

University of Minnesota General Counsel Mark Rotenberg announced the moratorium at a Sunday hearing at the state Capitol called by Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson. Rotenburg said the new policy should assure Minnesotans that any merger talks involving a change in control of the University of Minnesota Medical Center – now owned by Fairview – won't be tainted by potential conflicts involving any "gifts for football or athletics or anything else.''

Swanson welcomed the moratorium. She said at the packed hearing that Minnesota taxpayers have a major stake not only in the future of the U of M's medical franchise, but also in century-old Fairview, which has grown in large part due to its tax-exempt status and gifts of land and other assets from the state and Minnesotans who have supported the non-profit.

She said her job is to protect Minnesota's investments in the U and Fairview and to make sure the assets are not inappropriately siphoned off to an out-of-state company.

Some of the crowd behind him applauded as David Feinwachs compared the potential Fairview-Sanford merger to the public library being taken over by Wal-Mart as he testified during a hearing with Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson on the proposed takeover.
Some of the crowd behind him applauded as David Feinwachs compared the potential Fairview-Sanford merger to the public library being taken over by Wal-Mart as he testified during a hearing with Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson on the proposed takeover. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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Tony Kennedy

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Tony Kennedy is an outdoors writer covering Minnesota news about fishing, hunting, wildlife, conservation, BWCA, natural resource management, public land, forests and water.

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