Constitutional Law

Pa. university's foundation loses bid to block access to records

By By The Associated Press

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania?s highest court has upheld a ruling entitling a newspaper to donor financial information from East Stroudsburg University?s foundation.

The Pocono Record reports the state Supreme Court issued an order March 16 refusing to hear the university?s appeal of a lower court ruling.

The action is expected to clear the way for the newspaper to inspect donation records related to East Stroudsburg?s Science and Technology Center and examine meeting minutes of the university foundation.

The school had denied the paper?s initial request in February 2009, which came as a former foundation executive director was being investigated on allegations of sexual and financial impropriety.

The state-owned university had argued its foundation was not subject to the open-records law.

University spokesman Doug Smith declined comment.

Full post as published by First Amendment Center on March 17, 2011 (boomark / email).