RALEIGH — North Carolina Press Association officials said Tuesday that the organizations will not sue the University of North Carolina system for failing to comply with the state’s Open Meetings Law even though the NCPA was “deeply troubled” by the search process in September.
The notification came in a letter by Rip Woodin, president of the NCPA, to UNC Board of Governors Chairman Brad Wilson. The letter was written on behalf of the NCPA, The News and Observer of Raleigh, The Charlotte Observer, The Associated Press, and the North Carolina Broadcasters Association.
In September, after Erskine Bowles was announced as the nominee to replace retiring Molly Broad, media members said UNC violated the state’s Open Meetings Law by conducting votes in closed session and not notifying the public when meetings of the search committee would be held.
In October, Attorney General Roy Cooper released an advisory opinion condemning the search process for violating the Open Meetings Law. Wilson was chairman of the search committee.
Woodin wrote that the NCPA and others were “deeply troubled by the University’s arrogant refusal to publicly acknowledge the rather obvious violations to the North Carolina Open Meetings Law.”
“Despite this open-and-shut case, we don’t think the public gains much from litigating this matter,” Woodin said. “So, we will not pursue a lawsuit.”
In the letter, Woodin implied that part of the reason the NCPA would not litigate the case was because of the group’s support for Erskine Bowles as UNC president. Woodin also applauded Bowles for asking members of the General Assembly to drop consideration of Senate Bill 932, which would keep private several pieces of information that is currently available to the public. The legislation was pushed by Broad’s administration.
“Bowles’ candor and accessibility promise a new era of openness and accountability at the University,” Woodin said in the letter. “My colleagues join me in welcoming this refreshing approach. Our faith in your new president has playing a major role in our decision not to file a lawsuit. However, our optimism doesn’t mean we will abandon our role as a watchdog of the public’s interest. We will continue to fulfill that responsibility with zeal.”
Shannon Blosser (sblosser@popecenter.org) is a staff writer with the John W. Pope Center for Higher Education Policy in Chapel Hill.