SIU secrecy

The legal battle in which the Anna Gazette-Democrat is seeking a copy of employment contracts at Southern Illinois University looks like a battle between David and Goliath. In this case, however, the weekly newspaper is representing the public's right to know how its tax dollars are being spent. If an Illinois appellate court sides with the university, it will be sanctioning unwarranted government secrecy.

SIU lawyers argue that contracts like that of SIU president Glenn Poshard might contain private information like Social Security numbers and medical information. The Gazette-Democrat has no interest in knowing anyone's Social Security number. However, if there are medical conditions that warrant special consideration in an employment contract, that's something the public ought to know.

The university lawyers also say they routinely release details about pay and benefits contained in employment contracts, so there's no need to make the entire contract public. The public's trust is not expanded by filtering what information will or will not be released under this policy.

The university should make the contracts in question available immediately. Its legal gyrations are costing taxpayers needless expense. At the same time, the university knows it is placing an enormous burden of legal expenses on the Anna newspaper -- a burden that perhaps it hopes will make the Gazette-Democrat drop its quest for public information.

The Gazette-Democrat has used its slingshot. Now it's up to a court to decide if the giant will hand over its public records.