5-29-2019
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Three student journalists have filed a lawsuit against Western Washington University, alleging that the school has violated the state Public Records Act by keeping the names of students who have committed sexual offenses secret.
The lawsuit claims the school violated the act when it responded to a 2018 records request with a list of sexual offenses and disciplinary actions but redacted the offenders’ names.
Western spokesman Paul Cocke says the school believes the redactions comply with with the Public Records Act and the school will respond to the charges in court.
A lawyer from the nonprofit Student Press Law Center headquartered in Washington D.C. is representing the students in the lawsuit filed in Whatcom Superior Court.