Missoulian editorial – Regents wrong to grant University of Montana Foundation right to withhold public information

Without explanation or even a public discussion, the Montana Board of Regents has decided to grant a university foundation the ability to significantly delay the release of public information by a public university — or to keep it hidden indefinitely.

This is an inexcusable violation of the Montana Constitution, which explicitly protects the public’s right to review public documents, and to do so in a timely manner. But following state law — and ensuring access to public records — is clearly not a priority for Montana’s regents, who approved an agreement promising to keep important information secret without bothering to request an analysis from legal counsel first.

Adding insult to injury, regents have offered no substantive reasoning for their decision to flout state law. However, it’s not difficult to guess what might have given rise to the new language in the agreement.

Full Editorial: http://missoulian.com/opinion/editorial/regents-wrong-to-grant-um-foundation-right-to-withhold-public/article_8bfc7c8b-eb50-544e-bc4e-b6dbee3e7b7d.html