Freedom to hide: FOIA amendments foster secrecy
Last Wednesday, Gov. John Engler signed a bill restricting public access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act. Michigan House Bill 4849, scheduled to take effect later this year, contains a provision that will no longer require public institutions to offer a reason when choosing to deny FOIA requests. The old law required public agencies to explain their decision to withhold letters of recommendation and references.
Knock it down: Court must overturn unannounced searches
Breaking and entering is a crime - unless it's perpetrated by the local police. Recently, the Wisconsin Supreme Court gave police officers the right to enter houses unannounced for all drug searches. This ruling violates the privacy rights bequeathed upon all citizens. Law enforcement officers, like all other visitors, should have to knock before entering.
An open letter to President Bollinger
Dear Mr. President,
I realize that you have a daunting task in front of you. In a few weeks you will have to take the reins of a huge, prestigious university. You will have to take responsibility for more than 35,000 students, a massive budget and a board of regents that is, due to problems surrounding the process of your hiring, more skittish than Chuck Colson at a prison dance.
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