<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle21
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#993366;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Amen and amen. I made three public records requests recently. Actually, it was only one but it was modified three times to try to meet the parameters that would pare the cost down to a reasonable level. I wanted to know the names of the fraternities and sororities who had been charged with alcohol violations. I was not interested in the names of the miscreants. I just wanted to look at the pattern of offenses and the UI or national chapter headquarters response to them. Well, that’s not going to happen. The response to my first request was this:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>“Your request meets at least one of the criteria discussed above, will have costs associated with it, and we will require advance payment of the costs as described above. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>Below is the estimate provided by the Greek Advisor, whose hourly rate is $29.95, of the amount of time and cost associated with gathering up all the requested records:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=1014 style='width:760.55pt;margin-left:-1.15pt;border-collapse:collapse'><tr style='height:21.0pt'><td width=353 nowrap style='width:265.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;background:yellow;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:21.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Task<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=71 nowrap style='width:53.55pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;background:yellow;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:21.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Hours<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=589 nowrap style='width:442.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;background:yellow;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:21.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Notes<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:30.0pt'><td width=353 style='width:265.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b><span style='color:black'>Viewing 4yrs of chapter emails individually to identify which are related to discipline and/or investigation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=71 nowrap style='width:53.55pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='color:black'>13<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=589 nowrap style='width:442.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>4,521 emails (10s p/email)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></td></tr><tr style='height:18.75pt'><td width=353 style='width:265.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b><span style='color:black'>Going through paper files in Director's filing cabinet<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=71 nowrap style='width:53.55pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='color:black'>5<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=589 nowrap style='width:442.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>estimated 1,850 records (25 groups * 70 pages per group + other folders)(10s p/page)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></td></tr><tr style='height:30.0pt'><td width=353 style='width:265.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b><span style='color:black'>Going through paper files in Assistant Greek Advisor's filing cabinet<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=71 nowrap style='width:53.55pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='color:black'>1.5<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=589 nowrap style='width:442.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>estimated 500 records (10s p/page)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></td></tr><tr style='height:30.0pt'><td width=353 style='width:265.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b><span style='color:black'>Viewing potentially relevant electronic files on the Greek Advisor's hard drive space from past 4 years<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=71 nowrap style='width:53.55pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='color:black'>3.5<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=589 nowrap style='width:442.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>1,196 files (10s p/file)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></td></tr><tr style='height:30.0pt'><td width=353 style='width:265.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b><span style='color:black'>Reading through electronic files from before the current Greek Advisor started on previous Greek life hard drive<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=71 nowrap style='width:53.55pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='color:black'>17<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=589 nowrap style='width:442.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>4,076 Files (15s p/file)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></td></tr><tr style='height:30.0pt'><td width=353 style='width:265.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b><span style='color:black'>Going through relevant files in additional Greek filing cabinet in DOS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=71 nowrap style='width:53.55pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='color:black'>7<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=589 nowrap style='width:442.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:30.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>2,500 files (estimated 50 files that may contain relevant info, 50 sheets per file)(10s p/page)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></td></tr><tr style='height:18.75pt'><td width=353 style='width:265.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:white;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b><span style='color:black'>Going through DOS Archive in Library from 2005<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=71 nowrap style='width:53.55pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;background:white;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='color:black'>5<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=589 nowrap style='width:442.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>unknown amount of files, estimating 2,000 potential files to sort through<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></td></tr><tr style='height:15.75pt'><td width=353 nowrap valign=bottom style='width:265.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:yellow;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:15.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b><span style='color:black'>TOTAL<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=71 nowrap valign=bottom style='width:53.55pt;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;background:yellow;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:15.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>52<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=589 nowrap valign=bottom style='width:442.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;background:yellow;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:15.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:15.0pt'><td width=353 nowrap valign=bottom style='width:265.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:none;background:yellow;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b><span style='color:black'>SUBTOTAL COST (52 hrs x $29.95/hr)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=71 nowrap valign=bottom style='width:53.55pt;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;background:yellow;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b><span style='color:black'>$1,557.40<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=589 nowrap valign=bottom style='width:442.0pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;background:yellow;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:15.0pt'></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>SUBTOTAL: $1,557.40 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>Minus First 2 hours free <u>$59.90</u><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>TOTAL $1,497.50<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>The university will not expend the time and resources necessary to locate and acquire the requested records at the risk of taxpayer funds; consequently, you will be required to deliver advance payment in certified funds in the amount of <b>$1,497.50 </b>prior to the University commencing the process necessary to locate and acquire those records. If the estimated funds are insufficient to complete location and acquisition of the full scope of requested records, you will be informed of our estimate for funds necessary to complete the process and we will await advance payment of that sum prior to proceeding further. )”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>I amended my request, which was, arguably, far to global in nature (not really) according to the Greek advisor (a worthless position funded by the citizens of Idaho NOT members of the Greek community who would be the only people in Idaho interested in his services) I asked that the Student Conduct Board records, minus any identifying personal information (except for campus living arrangements), with offenses related to alcohol offenses be made available. I needed only a simple table covering seven years. After 10 days (and a nudge) UI attorney Costa responded with this financial estimate<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>“The Coordinator for Student Conduct and Community Standards estimates that it will take 20 hours at an hourly rate of $25.74 to review the records and identify responsive records, and an additional 2 hours at the same rate to redact personally identifiable information from such records.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>20 hours x $25.74 = $514.80<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2 hours x $25.74 = $51.48<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><u>Minus first two hours free ($51.48)</u><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Total Estimated Cost $514.80”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>My third request led Mr. Costa to send me an internet link (which didn’t work) to a campus document that I had previously told Mr. Costa I had already seen and didn’t answer my questions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I gave up at that point. Just as a side note – Mr. Costa is a Notre Dame law school graduate who apparently missed the class in law school that dealt with professional communication. I was quite surprised when he responded to my emails addressing me by my first name i.e., “Dear Rosemary.” We certainly are not on a first name basis, but perhaps he felt that taking that initiative gave him a privileged advantage in our communications. It didn’t. his responses were obstructive, rude in tone, and patronizing. What a load of hooey. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In sharp contrast, it took one short note to Moscow Police Chief and literally an overnight response to learn at least a part of what I wanted to know. He didn’t have access to particular houses involved in alcohol offenses but at least he had the numbers and knew how to write a professional response – and the internet link he included worked!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“Since we contract law enforcement services with the University of Idaho we track mandatory Clery reportable offenses. Alcohol violations are listed on the annual reports and those at fraternities/sororities are listed in the “NON- CAMPUS NC” section. Below is the link to our records. Click which year you would like to review on the left side of the window and the number of alcohol violations for fraternities/sororities is listed for you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/police/campus/Pages/ui-statistics.aspx"><span style='color:windowtext'>http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/police/campus/Pages/ui-statistics.aspx</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS (Except Driving Under the Influence and Drunkenness) (Crimes Against Society)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Definition: The violation of laws or ordinances prohibiting the manufacture, sale, purchase, transportation, possession, or use of alcoholic beverages. This would include minors in possession, open container, serving alcohol outside designated hours, providing alcohol to a minor, etc.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is no wonder that the flagship institution is rapidly taking on water and sinking into the cesspool they have created. The captain is abandoning the ship and storms of discontentment are swirling around. It is hard to imagine a happy future on the hill.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rose Huskey <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Saundra Lund<br><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, March 09, 2013 11:53 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'Vision 2020'<br><b>Subject:</b> [Vision2020] Lewiston Tribune: It's back to the shadows for the UI<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>A friend shared the below editorial with me – I’m surprised and disappointed there was no Daily News coverage </span><span style='font-family:Wingdings;color:#1F497D'>L</span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>What on earth is <b>wrong</b> with the UI?! And, that question applies to more than just the reprehensible and anemic response highlighted in the editorial below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Since Kent Nelson was brought onboard, the UI has become <b>incredibly</b> secretive, particularly with respect to public records requests. Indeed, I’m perfectly comfortable saying that it has added extortion to its bag of shady tricks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>For those who depend on the Daily News – as I do – and don’t subscribe to the Lewiston Tribune, I found this article that provides more detail about the Williams scandal than does the editorial:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="http://media.spokesman.com/documents/2013/03/2472_001.pdf">http://media.spokesman.com/documents/2013/03/2472_001.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Saundra <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:20.25pt;background:white'><b><span lang=EN style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>It's back to the shadows for the UI<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><b><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Posted: Friday, March 8, 2013 12:00 am </span></b><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>University of Idaho administrators act much differently when the spotlight is glaring upon them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>And the lights were blazingly hot during the summer of 2011, when former UI psychology professor Ernesto Bustamante gunned down graduate student Katy Benoit and subsequently took his own life in a Moscow motel room.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Chastened by criticism that its response to Benoit's appeals for help had been inadequate, UI responded with a mixture of contrition and transparency. Rules governing relationships between faculty and students were tightened. Sexual harassment allegations would be aggressively pursued.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Most vital of all, the public would see for itself how well UI conducted its affairs. In the Bustamante case, that meant UI would join news organizations in seeking release of the late professor's personnel file.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Some of the details that emerged embarrassed UI, such as a student evaluation that reported Bustamante tossed around the idea of killing students while in the classroom. Nonetheless, it telegraphed the institution's commitment to public disclosure.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Now the lights are off.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>What's happened since?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>With the Benoit case still in the courts during 2012, the university had been looking into claims that law professor Alan Fitzgerald Williams sexually harassed at least two female students.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Based upon almost a year of the Tribune's Joel Mills' reporting, Moscow police reports and the university's own acknowledgements, we know College of Law Associate Dean Benjamin Beard accompanied one of the students to the police interview.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>When requested by Carmen Suarez, UI director of Human Rights, Access and Inclusion, police provided her additional security.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Williams was placed on administrative leave during the fall 2012 semester and was about to be terminated when he committed suicide at Gig Harbor, Wash., on Dec. 30, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>As far as UI is concerned, that is all you need to know.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Never mind the precedent of 2nd District Judge John Stegner's ruling in opening Bustamante's files. Because Bustamante was deceased, Stegner found he had no right to privacy. The judge then found a compelling public interest in releasing the documents.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>What's different this time? Only the university's rejection of the Lewiston Tribune's request to see Williams' personnel file. In response to the second request - filed after Williams' death - UI said the public interest in releasing the file was "nonexistent."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Never mind a 1996 2nd District Court ruling declaring student evaluations of faculty to be public documents. Says UI, the law school holds itself apart from the rest of the university. But it is merely a graduate school, an extension of the university, not some government entity responsible for licensing lawyers. During the Benoit-Bustamante episode, UI President Duane Nellis was ubiquitous, frequently granting interviews assuring a statewide audience of his intent to remedy the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Today, Nellis is nowhere to be found. He's on his way out the door to lead Texas Tech in Lubbock. The voice of UI is lead attorney Kent Nelson.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Outside the glare of statewide publicity, the Williams case still matters. This marks the first time the reforms devised after the Benoit-Bustamante case were tested. How are we to know if the system worked, where it failed and what refinements are needed if the key players insist on hiding behind closed doors?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>What secrets do UI officials want retained within Williams' files and student evaluations?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>And how genuine was this UI commitment to transparency in the first place? In all likelihood, the courts were going to order the university to turn over Bustamante's records. UI could resist, get out of the way or appear to cooperate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Under no such pressure this time, UI has retreated behind its moat of secrecy. In the background, you can hear the faint echo of an unmistakable phrase: "Trust us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>