U of I wants clarification after request for records

By Lee Rood

"The University of Iowa is taking the unusual step of seeking clarity from a district court about what information it can legally release about student sexual assaults on campus."

"The Iowa attorney general's office filed a lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of the U of I against The Des Moines Register in Johnson County District Court. The lawsuit seeks legal guidance in the wake of an open records request by the newspaper to three U of I departments for documents from the past three years..."

"'There are very few litigated cases that explore the boundaries and reach of FERPA,' said Frank LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center, based in Virginia. LoMonte said the lack of legal challenges is unfortunate because, in his estimation, 'there's a severe overcompliance issue with FERPA nationally...'"

Full article available at http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20081022/NEWS10/810220363/1001/...