Lawsuit against Macalester College dismissed

On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Macalester College was informed that Dr. Neal Barnard’s June 2025 lawsuit against the college has been dismissed. 

Barnard sought to reclaim a $100 charitable donation to the college and to compel the college to alter its psychology lab curriculum. The Fourth Judicial District Court determined that the lawsuit was baseless.

“The Court’s ruling affirms that external parties cannot interfere with or dictate curriculum,” said Macalester College President Suzanne M. Rivera. “While people are entitled to personal opinions about animal use in science, the college is deeply committed to academic freedom. We respect the expertise of our faculty in what to teach and how to teach it.”

To provide clear information, we have created an FAQ website that explains our approach and oversight processes.

Macalester is a top 20 U.S. college for undergraduate teaching and is nationally recognized for providing excellent academic preparation, including in the sciences. Macalester’s faculty comply with all applicable animal care and use regulations and uphold well-accepted scientific and ethical standards for the use of animals in teaching and research. 

Macalester College is a private, independent liberal arts college in St. Paul, Minnesota.