The public has a right and need to know about about the conduct of their public bodies.

As a recent editorial in the Register-Guard has claimed with reference to the resignation of Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and his offfice's reluctance to turn over public records, "A prime example is the University of Oregon, which increasingly in recent years has made the refusal of public records requests its default position in defiance of its status as a public university."

In the Summer of 2014, media organizations including the Register-Guard, KATU, and the New York Times all filed petitions to the Lane County District Attorney challenging the University's release of public records in regards to allegations of sexual assault by three members of the University of Oregon basketball team.

It is time to end the practice of hiding our public records and let the sunshine in.

We ask that the administrators of the University of Oregon comply with the law.

We ask that the Eugene Police Department and/or the Oregon Department of Justice to investigate the extent to which administrators at the University of Oregon have:

1. Charged exorbitant fees for the production of production of public records.

ORS 162.305, Obstructing governmental or judicial administration states, "A person commits the crime of obstructing governmental or judicial administration if the person intentionally obstructs, impairs or hinders the administration of law or other governmental or judicial function by means of intimidation, force, physical or economic interference or obstacle."

2. Redacted public records to an extent that does not comport with existing state or federal law.

3. Hidden public records from existence completely by failing to produce records that they were legally required to produce.

ORS 162.305, Tampering with public records states, " A person commits the crime of tampering with public records if, without lawful authority, the person knowingly destroys, mutilates, conceals, removes, makes a false entry in or falsely alters any public record, including records relating to the Oregon State Lottery."

Given the severe and pervasive problems with public records access at the University of Oregon, and having no faith in the University's own private police department to conduct an investigation, we humbly ask that the Eugene Police Department conduct an independent criminal probe to determine the extent that University of Oregon administrators may have broken the law.

Together, we can make a difference, let the sunshine in, and take back our University.