Something fishy is going on around MSU lately, and it's not just the salmon the MSU Board of Trustees enjoyed Wednesday night.

Last week the board shut out the public from its dinner inside Cowles House — again.

This is happening despite the fact that some First Amendment lawyers have questioned the board's reasoning for closing its meetings.

And the official incident report of a February assault in Hubbard Hall is apparently not a matter for the public either. On March 2, a letter was sent from The State News to the MSU Freedom of Information Act Office requesting a copy of the MSU police incident report detailing the assault. This request was denied in a letter from MSU on March 24, stating that releasing the report would disclose personal information and invade the privacy of people involved in the incident.

The State News' appeal of the denial was sent to MSU on March 28, under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA. The request to receive a copy of the report was again denied in a letter dated April 6, received Wednesday.

Both of these cases show the trickle-down theory at its best.

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, one of the most influential officials in the MSU community, is condoning withholding information from the public.

Simon has said the board's meetings are within legal guidelines. And The State News received a letter addressing its appeal signed by Simon that said she had determined the records were "properly withheld."

This sort of response coming from MSU's president is detrimental to open communication between students and the university.

The State News wasn't given specific reasons for why the release of the records would hinder any further investigation, and its staff still doesn't understand exactly why a reporter can't go to the dinners if there isn't anything to hide.

But the wide range of trustee responses to the topics discussed at the dinners might suggest there is business conducted behind closed doors.

Since January 2005, the trustees have approved about 90 recommendations, but only four have not been unanimous decisions. How could they have been so good at presenting a uniformed front for these issues, but none of the trustees can agree on whether they discuss board issues at its dinners?

There seems to be some miscommunication.

Joel Ferguson, an MSU trustee, apparently thinks the board is exempt from Michigan's Open Meetings Act. Another trustee, Melanie Foster, admits that some work is discussed at the dinners, but made sure to add that it was mostly a social function. And trustee Dorothy Gonzales has flat out said that the dinner discussion includes various issues that are currently before the board.

Maybe the board should utilize one of its closed-door meetings to come to a consistent stance on what exactly is being discussed.

And now a former Cowles House worker, Steve Corson, has said business is definitely discussed during the closed-door dinners.

Although all this secrecy might seem like it doesn't affect you, it does.

The board makes decisions that can directly impact you and your life as a student at MSU. Since 2005, the trustees have raised tuition for incoming and returning students, banned open alcohol on campus and approved millions of dollars for the construction of a parking ramp.

You have the right to understand what is going on at your university and how your money is being spent.

Trustee Colleen McNamara has said the board has nothing to hide, and although the public isn't allowed at its dinners, we are always welcome to call any of the trustees to gain information about what they're working on.

Let the university know you care about these issues by taking a stance.

Contact the board

We're supplying the information and the numbers; all you have to do is call.