Your Right to Know column: Officials use digital dodges to hide records
The disturbing trend toward using digital dodges to evade Wisconsin’s Open Records Law extends far beyond the university.
Written By:
David Armiak / Center for Media and Democracy | 12:00 pm, May 14, 2021 ×
David Armiak
In March, The Washington Post reported that University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank sought to move a conversation around the COVID-19 pandemic and students returning to campus in the fall to a private portal used by presidents and chancellors of the 14 Big Ten universities.
“I would be delighted to share information,” Blank responded in an email chain begun last August by University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel, “but perhaps we can do this through the Big 10 portal, which will assure confidentiality?”
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In March, The Washington Post reported that University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank sought to move a conversation around the COVID-19 pandemic and students returning to campus in the fall to a private portal used by presidents and chancellors of the 14 Big Ten universities.
“I would be delighted to share information,” Blank responded in an email chain begun last August by University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel, “but perhaps we can do this through the Big 10 portal, which will assure confidentiality?”
Blank apologized after the story broke, but did not go so far as to say that she would provide responsive communications through the Big 10 portal to record requesters in the future.
May 3, 2021 - 10:54am
Photo credit: Abmurken
In March,
The Washington Post reported that University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank sought to move a conversation around the COVID-19 pandemic and students returning to campus in the fall to a private portal used by presidents and chancellors of the 14 Big Ten universities. I would be delighted to share information, Blank responded in an email chain begun last August by University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel, but perhaps we can do this through the Big 10 portal, which will assure confidentiality?
Blank apologized after the story broke, but did not go so far as to say that she would provide responsive communications through the Big 10 portal to record requesters in the future.
UW-Madison administration, Republican legislators use digital dodges to violate open records law. By David Armiak - May 3rd, 2021 11:29 am //end headline wrapper ?>Files. (Pixabay License).
In March, The Washington Post reported that University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor
Rebecca Blank sought to move a conversation around the COVID-19 pandemic and students returning to campus in the fall to a private portal used by presidents and chancellors of the 14 Big Ten universities.
“I would be delighted to share information,” Blank responded in an email chain begun last August by University of Michigan President
Mark Schlissel, “but perhaps we can do this through the Big 10 portal, which will assure confidentiality?”