The debate between opponents and proponents of the ISU Foundation’s records becoming open to the public has once again reared its ugly head.

A letter written to Interim President Richard Seagrave by 47 donors, faculty members and former faculty members claimed if the foundation’s records were not opened, it would have a negative effect on the state.

Seagrave responded with a letter of his own, arguing against opening the records, saying it would discourage prospective donors.

If anything is going to discourage prospective donors, it’s the fact that no one can find out how the foundation is spending donors’ money.

Opening the records will clearly have a positive impact on the amount of donations the ISU Foundation will receive.

The letter to Seagrave contained a very strong argument – there is no reason the foundation, formed by the Board of Regents to operate in support of a public university, with tax deductibility for contributions, should not be open to the Iowa Open Records Law.

Those who want to keep the records closed are only hurting the foundation and its spending capabilities.

The more they fight opening the records, the more the public and donors will be for opening them.

The fight for closed records only makes it look as if the ISU Foundation has something to conceal from the public.

Is it really a matter of principal, or does the ISU Foundation have something to hide?

editorialboard: Michelle Kann, Tim Paluch, Jocelyn Marcus, Zach Calef, Ruth Hitchcock, Cavan Reagan