Once again, Ohio University is attempting to withhold documents that should be public records.
On March 6, The Post requested access to the reduction strategies that OU departments and offices had submitted to Budget Planning Council. John Biancamano, OU's general counsel, said those submissions would be part of an administrative process only and would not constitute a final record - just one piece of the puzzle
as he said. Unfortunately, that's a pretty weak metaphor. A puzzle has only one solution; it's just a matter of putting the pieces in the right places and how much time that will take. Budget cuts, however, are much messier: There are many ways the scenario could play out.
But the university's figurative illustration is far less important than the literal implications for the people who are affected by the reductions. The decisions made by top administrators will affect the taxpayers whose money supports the university's undertakings. They will affect the students, present and future, whose tuition dollars pay for academic programs that could face cuts. They will affect the university employees whose very jobs are on the line.
The economy is weak, and cuts will need to be made. But the constituents of this university need to be a part of the decision making. Shared governance does not mean the university's top brass makes a decision and the students, faculty and staff discuss it afterward. It means that the people discuss every step, offering input and helping to shape solutions before the university makes its decisions - a closed council with representatives is not enough. Yes, it's messy. The pieces don't always fit together just right. But if OU is serious about transparency, the discussion needs to be carried out in the public forum.
The Post refiled its request one week ago. OU would be wise to honor it. If the university continues to ignore its duty to the public and refuses to release the records - well, that would be truly puzzling. 4
Opinion
OU must openly involve taxpayers, students, employees in budget cuts
