WEBSTER CITY — Lawyers for Partnership Press, Inc., attempted in court Wednesday to paint the Iowa State Daily as a branch of the university.

Partnership Press, the parent company of the Ames Daily Tribune, is suing the Iowa State Daily Publication Board, Inc., and General Manager Janette Antisdel for alleged violations of Iowa open records laws.

Michael Giudicessi, a Partnership Press lawyer, said the trial is devoted to whether the open records law applies to the Daily.

Mike Moon, the Daily’s lawyer, said the Daily Publication Board is a private, non-profit corporation that “is owned by students and run by students,” and thus, not bound by open records laws.

Questioning Antisdel, Giudicessi concentrated on inconsistencies in wording and figures in various documents.

Antisdel said that wording differences over the Daily’s free office space in Hamilton Hall are just a matter of semantics.

ISU gives the Daily free rent and is not charged for utilities, Giudicessi pointed out.

While a majority of the Daily’s employees are students, the newspaper employs eight professionals, not including Antisdel.

For its professional employees, the Daily is also allowed to buy into the university’s benefits program, another example, Partnership Press officials claim, of why the Daily should be considered a governmental body.

In July, the Daily was classified as an “affliate” of the university. Before it was considred an official student organization in a somewhat ambigous relationship.

In addition, the Daily receives tax-exempt status through the university.

If the judge rules in Partnership Press’ favor, the Daily could be required to turn over what the Publication Board considers sensitive information.

The Daily board contends that it is not obligated to release information such as advertising rate cards and contracts that would make its advertising base vulnerable.

Antisdel and Tribune Editor Michael Gartner were the only witnesses called Wednesday. Antisdel will be cross-examined today by the Daily’s lawyer.

Also scheduled to testify today is Warren Madden, ISU’s vice president for business and finance.