Is there a legislative agenda to silence whistleblowers at Dickinson State University?

Efforts to shut up whistleblowers will only make it harder to fix higher ed and attract/retain talent.

Previously, I wrote about House Bill 1198 would “require an individual who requests an open record to provide the individual's name and contact information,” and how this is a huge departure from current law and policy. That bill is sponsored by Representative Mike Lefor, Representative Vicky Steiner, and Senator Dean Rummel - the entire District 37 delegation from Dickinson.

Bill Would End Anonymous Open Record Requests

The Grand Forks Herald editorial board wrote an opinion agreeing that this is a bad bill:

When any person walks into a public office – some city hall or school headquarters, for instance – they are entitled to see any public record they wish. That person doesn’t have to explain, give their name or why they have an interest in that public record.

They don’t even have to be from that town.

That is not only the law, it’s just common sense. State law even spells it out, saying a public entity or its representatives “may not ask for the motive or reason for requesting the records or for the identity of the person request…