UWM stifles student press under FERPA shield

Former UWM Post editor Jonathan Anderson sat down with The Badger Herald to explain the difficulties his paper faced obtaining what they believed to be public records. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee refused to release many records, such as student government meeting minutes, in their entirety. Anderson said UWM claimed the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act precluded them from releasing any records that might allow someone to discover the identities of students sitting on governing committees, for instance.

Two Wisconsin legislators raised concern earlier this week about the campaign efforts of Milwaukee County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker on various University of Wisconsin System campuses earlier this month. Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, said he first became aware of the possible ethical problems with Walker’s campaign rallies following the release of a Stevens Point Journal article Nov. 3. The article reported Walker had held fundraising drives on college campuses around the state. According to a statement released earlier this month by the Walker campaign, the one-day fundraising effort on campuses raised $25,581. Following the article’s release, Schneider and Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink, D-Milladore, sent a letter Tuesday to Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, the Government Accountability Board and the UW Board of Regents requesting them to investigate Walker’s campaign activities in state buildings. The letter stated under state statute, “Every person who has charge or control in a building, office or room occupied for any purpose by this state … shall prohibit the entry of any person into that building, office or room for the purpose of making or receiving a contribution.” Another statute cited in the letter prohibits campaign activities in state buildings. According to Schneider, if Walker’s campaign were found to be involved in illegal fundraising, he and Vruwink will ask for swift action. “We would ask that the money that was raised illegally be returned, and fines imposed upon those responsible,” Schneider said. Schneider added he is also concerned that if Walker is not corrected for this error, it will give other candidates the green light to campaign in state buildings. Schneider also said the accompanying photo in the Stevens Point Journal article shows Rep. Kevin Petersen, R-Waupaca, talking to a student and campaigning for Walker in the Dreyfus University Center on the UW-Stevens Point campus. “I would love to campaign in the Dreyfus Center, but I can’t — it’s a state building” Schneider said. “Just because you’re running for governor doesn’t mean you can break the law.” Jill Bader, spokesperson for the Walker Campaign, said in an e-mail to The Badger Herald the campaign committee complied with the schools. “First off, we are in compliance, the event was made known to the school and the student volunteers specifically asked permission to hold the rallies,” Bader said. “They were granted permission by the school.” Bader reinforced that Walker’s campaign activites were not illegal and said it is pathetic that Democrats are persecuting college students who are volunteering and attempting to garner support for Walker’s gubernatorial campaign. The letter sent by Schneider and Vruwink says if it is proven the events were held illegally, both university students and state officials will be held accountable for their part in the fundraisers. View the complaint The UWM Post filed Wednesday with the Milwaukee County Circuit Court against UWM.