Statement: OU Regents' action possibly violates Open Meeting Act

In response to what transpired during the Oct. 22nd meeting of the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, we have issued the following statement:

Freedom of Information Oklahoma expresses strong concern about the process used by the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents in its recent selection of a new chairman.  The agenda item under which the Board of Regents took action was so vague that it did not appear to be calculated to inform the public that discussion or election of a chairman would be considered at the meeting. 

The OU Regents are representative of a higher education institution known for an outstanding Mass Communication program.  Regents should not only be aware of the need to abide by the Open Meeting Act and Open Records Act, but should also set an example for its students and for other state and local government bodies.  Rather than trying to keep the public guessing about what is going on behind closed doors, we encourage the regents to embrace the principle that citizens are entitled to a government that operates in the sunshine.  As the Open Meeting Act states, “It is the public policy of the State of Oklahoma to encourage and facilitate an informed citizenry's understanding of the governmental processes and governmental problems.”

The regents’ recent action is not the first time they have been criticized for the “us vs. them” attitude they have shown toward the public’s right to know.  Rather, it is another in the continuing examples of why Freedom of Information Oklahoma recognized the OU Board of Regents with its Black Hole Award, a dubious distinction given to recognize an individual, agency or organization that has most thwarted the free flow of information.

Any action taken in violation of the Open Meeting Act may be declared invalid.  We encourage the regents to prepare an agenda for its next meeting that rescinds its previous election and gives clear notice to the public of its intent to elect a chairman.   

We also encourage the regents to make a public statement that it is committed to openness and transparency, rather than continuing to debate with the public and the press that its efforts to obscure somehow meet the technical requirements of the law.  FOI Oklahoma would be happy to work with regents to improve the openness of their relationship with the citizens they represent.