Closed session at USG meeting violates FOI laws

By: Kala Kachmar

Posted: 8/28/08

The Undergraduate Student Government violated Connecticut's Freedom of Information laws last night by failing to follow proper procedure for closing their public meeting and moving into executive session, which is not open to the public.

The Freedom of Information laws are designed to ensure citizen access to public records, files and meetings. Connecticut's version of the law requires that, prior to an executive session in a public meeting, the public must be given a reason as to why that part of the meeting needs to be closed. USG failed to disclose a reason prior to the session, and again refused immediately after.

The law also states that the speaker is only allowed to hold an executive session if the topic being discussed has to do with specific employees, strategy and negotiation regarding pending litigation, security matters, real estate acquisition or any matter that would not be a public record.

In addition, the law requires a two-thirds vote of the members present before executive session can be held. Speaker and 3rd-semester political science major Corey Schmitt simply stated that the members were going into executive session. While there were no objections from the USG senate, there was also no vote taken before members of the public were asked to leave the room.

Immediately following the meeting, The Daily Campus asked Schmitt to provide a reason for calling the executive session. Schmitt refused to do so, citing that the issue was "sensitive" and that he could not divulge anything discussed in executive session.

Nearly a half-hour after the meeting ended, Schmitt called The Daily Campus and said the reason for the executive session was to discuss a personnel issue.

"There is no proof we didn't make up a reason," Schmitt said in a conference call with The Daily Campus.

"We didn't feel comfortable discussing [this] in front of members of the public," he added, refusing to articulate exactly what he and other members hadn't felt comfortable discussing.

Schmitt also said he will "fix it for next time," referring to the procedure for calling an executive session at a public meeting. He said he was not aware of the law, but felt that USG was in the right.

"Even if the voting was done correctly, we can't tell you what we did in executive session," Schmitt said.

USG President Ryan McHardy said the issue discussed in the executive session was "nothing of interest" and that it was something "private about a recent loss."

During the remainder of the meeting, USG approved an act that would retire the position of Sergeant-at-Arms, which was held by UConn senior Vladimir Voinov before his death last week.

Voinov, who was also the editor-in-chief of the weekly campus newspaper Inpolitically Correct, was shot to death at a New Haven apartment on Aug. 21. The incident is currently under investigation by the New Haven Police.

Adam Szychowski also held the USG position of Sergeant-at-Arms at the time of his death last January.

McHardy said the symbolic position will serve as a memorial for all members of USG who have died. He also said that USG has not arranged a formal ceremony honoring Voinov because they are having difficulty reaching his immediate family.

The position of Sergeant-at-Arms was created two years ago to ensure members followed the USG Constitution. The chair of the senate as well as other executive positions will now be in charge of fulfilling the duties of this position, McHardy said.

Kala.Kachmar@UConn.edu