Open Illinois.org

Today, the Chicago Tribune filed suit against the University of Illinois for student records that may have had a role in questionable admissions standards. It started out as a simple Freedom of Information Act request, which are intended to be very simple.  Then, it turned into exchanged letters and editorials.  Now, it’s about to get legal.

Is this really what has to happen before government run agencies decide to publish their information freely and in an easily accessible way?  Must we have to file FOIA requests, only for them to be delayed or denied? (You can watch Adam Andrzejewski call out Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office on these delays and denials here).  It’s not that hard for these records to simply be published, something that the new FOIA legislation urges government offices to do, if they maintain a website.  There’s an important step, however, between legislative “urging” and actual online record. It’s called leadership.  Often times, it just takes one person, with a little influence and some elbow grease, to make it a reality.

It will be interesting to see what develops out of the Trib’s legal case.  In the meantime, check out their website section dedicated to transparency issues such as these.  And keep demanding access to your government.