Next week, every day is Sunday.
Sunshine Week is an annual event dedicated to promoting open records, transparent government and freedom of information. Ohio University's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has already conducted several sunny events this week. The national Sunshine Week actually takes place next week, March 15-21, but it would be a shame to let something like exams get in the way of such an important discussion - and make no mistake, open records are important.
Governments often prefer to operate in secret - in the dark. And like the molds, fungi, insects and spiders that grow in a damp, dark basement, ugly things grow in a darkened government: corruption, waste and other abuses of power. A government needs to be well-lit and well-ventilated to be kept clean and accountable.
OU has more than a few cobwebs. Getting even the simplest, incontestably public records in a timely manner can be a struggle, requiring formal requests that are funneled through OU's Communications and Marketing and Office of Legal Affairs. And we're still pretty sore about the uncooperative Board of Trustees, led by C. Daniel DeLawder, who is sickened by the waste and unproductive time spent in the name of open records and freedom of the press.
Sunshine is good for all of us, and OU's top administrators are looking a little vitamin-D deficient. Maybe spring break will give them a chance to take in a few rays. With a little commitment, every week can be Sunshine Week.
Editorials represent the views of The Post's executive editors.
4 Opinion
Sunshine Week to shed light on open records laws, dark 'cobwebs
