Panel Hears Arguments In 'SaveWCAL' Case

Organization Trying To Block Sale

A three-judge panel of the MINNESOTA Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in a case involving whether donations to a public radio station create a charitable trust that can block the sale of the station. The case was brought by listener group SAVEWCAL against ST. OLAF COLLEGE's sale of noncommercial WCAL/NORTHFIELD, MN-MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL in 2004. 

The station was sold to MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO in 2004 and dropped its Classical format in favor of MPR's Triple A "THE CURRENT" programming and new calls of KCMP, bucking the efforts of the listeners' group.

SAVEWCAL Pres.RUTH SYLTE told the MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE, "We're trying to wake up the courts and wake up the public about what donor intent means and what are the rights of donors." The group is arguing that when individuals donate to a charitable institution, the act creates a trust that requires the charity not to do anything against the donors' intent.

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