Alligator Online

Federal law rightly protects the privacy of Social Security numbers, grades and other information of university students.

But UF officials have used the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as a broad shield against complying with requests for public records.

In some cases, the university has blocked information that they had given the Alligator just last year.

Following March’s Student Government elections, for example, the Alligator requested copies of the sign-in sheets at polling locations. The request was denied due to federal privacy concerns, even though the only information that would be on the sheets was who voted and where.

That same information for any resident voting in local, state or federal elections in Florida would be open to the public.

Yet, according to UF, SG does not have to comply with those requests.

What is unacceptable is that the university has no qualms about releasing students’ names or privacy concerns when it is to its benefit.

Each year, UF sends out hundreds of press releases and other information to the media announcing breakthroughs in research, award or scholarship recipients and other outstanding student accomplishments.

Just this week, UF student Danny DePaz’s name made it into The Washington Post in an Associated Press story, but not because he won an award or a Rhodes Scholarship.

A rabid bat bit him, and University Police released his name.

If UF and its General Counsel’s office are going to take such a firm and broad view of FERPA and its privacy protections, then their standard should apply to all information released to the media, not just that which may damage the university and its student-run government.

Should UF not publicize Joseph Wilson and Edwin Homan for winning Goldwater Scholarships?

Should the university remove Student Body President-elect Joe Goldberg’s name from the voting record of meetings of UF’s Board of Trustees, which helps set tuition rates?

Should the University Athletic Association remove the names of Matt Walsh, David Lee and other basketball players from their jerseys and press kits?

The answer is no. That is neither practical nor should it be necessary. The media, and henceforth our community, should know about student research, scholarship and accomplishments.

On the other hand, the press also has the obligation to be a watchdog of the university administration and SG and to give a full account of the university and its operations, whether it be negative or positive.

The university’s General Counsel’s office will not change its policy unless the press and other First Amendment groups fight to keep Florida’s public records in the sunshine.

If not, we at UF will face situations similar to those faced at Manatee Community College in Bradenton, where administrators redacted the names of Student Allocations Committee members from meeting records due to so-called FERPA restrictions.

SG controls approximately $11 million of student money at UF. Students have a right to know who is spending their money.

Dwayne Robinson is editor at the Alligator.