Tuition increases and budgetary plans — issues that greatly impact the student body — have been discussed during closed sessions, Bill Beekman, secretary to the Board of Trustees and executive assistant to MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, told The State News.

Those are exactly the kind of issues that should be discussed with student representation in attendance. Of course, the public has no knowledge of what goes on in these closed meetings. The topics of discussion could have little to no ramifications on the direction of this university. However, it’s impossible to know whether or not this is the case because the meetings are closed.

It’s a vicious circle. And while the public is circling, the board is making decisions that affect them.

One would think even the perception of impropriety should be enough to get the Board of Trustees to reconsider holding closed-door meetings. However, the board has been holding these meetings for the last quarter-century; it has become routine to keep the public uninformed.

Of course, there are issues that should be discussed in private, and those exemptions are included in Michigan’s Open Meetings Act. The public can be left out of legal issues within the university or personnel disciplinary discussions because those are matters between that individual and the university.

However, not having the public present at meetings that determine the direction of this university should be the exception, not the rule.

The Board of Trustees should follow the example of the East Lansing City Council.

The city council members, regardless of how they vote, make the reasoning behind their vote known. The public is perpetually informed about why the council makes the decisions that it does, and the board should operate in the same way.

It’s not the Board of Trustees’ decision to choose what is and isn’t worthy of public notice; it’s the public’s decision. And holding closed meetings robs the public of that control.

At the very least, the board should explain why the meetings are closed to the public. If matters of little relevance are the topics of discussion during these sessions, why can’t the public know that?

Ultimately, the closed work sessions have the feel of a dress rehearsal, a practice run before public meetings.

And students, who essentially are the shareholders of MSU, deserve more than a cursory performance from the people who control the direction of the university.