Massachusetts needs to make Harvard police subject to open records law
The Crimson student paper at Harvard University has been fighting long to get campus police records open and subject to the state open records law, including a lawsuit filed in 2003. The courts didn't agree with students, saying the university is a private entity so it can keep crime information secret if it wishes. That is outrageous, and likely to lead to another death like Jeanne Clery, which led to the Campus Security Act (see
Security on Campus). Last month the Connecticut FOI Commission issued a ruling saying Yale campus police shall release records regarding its exercise of police powers. The Crimson, in an
editorial, renewed its cause to urge Massachusetts legislators to pass law making private university police departments subject to the state public records law. Good job, Crimson! And with hope the legislators will listen, to prevent another tragic death like that of Jeanne Clery. For more information about access to campus crime, see the Student Press Law Center's
guide to campus crime.