OSHKOSH, Wis–The Winnebago County District Attorney’s office finds that U-W Oshkosh officials did violate the state’s open records laws by not releasing information requested by a local reporter. Former “Oshkosh Examiner” publisher Miles Maguire filed a complaint with the D-A’s office last year when the university provided heavily-redacted information on the school’s possession of Native American artifacts, and did not turn over records pertaining to a booster program established by former Titans Football Coach Pat Ceroni for nearly a year.
Maguire says the university acted in a way meant to prevent the public from having access to information………
Maguire hopes his case provides a blueprint for other journalists………………
Maguire was still able to publish articles detailing the university’s handling of Native artifacts that federal law required to be returned to the tribes–and on potential N-C-A-A violations caused by Ceroni’s booster program.
