The ISU Foundation is being taken to task again, this time by the Iowa Newspaper Association.

The media group is taking the private fund-raising organization to court in an effort to open its donation and funding records.

The records, which contain information about money donated to Iowa State during the Campaign Destiny fund drive, are not required to be opened by law because of the Foundation’s status as a private organization.

While they may not have to hang their laundry on the line, it is in the best interest of Iowa State University and the state of Iowa that they do so.

Secrets don’t make friends, especially when those secrets involve the whereabouts of millions of dollars. Questions have already been raised about the amounts, uses and sources of money donated to the Foundation and the university.

As a land-grant university and a leader in agriculture, Iowa State has a duty to the small farmer. It was founded to help them, but many outside of the university question whether we are fulfilling that roll now.

ISU Extension Services may provide resources to every small farmer in counties across the state, but that doesn’t mean much if the university is funding its football program with money from Iowa’s largest corporate hog farmer at the same time.

Iowa State should avoid even the appearance of wrong-doing.

Opening the ISU Foundation’s records would clear any questions or doubts Iowans may have about the university’s commitment to the small farmer and the state.

Every dollar would be accounted for, every donation and project known.

Anonymous donors would remain anonymous, but the public would have the numbers in hand.

Opening these records would legitimize the university’s position in the eyes of Iowa citizens. If the laundry isn’t dirty, they shouldn’t have any problem taking it out to dry.