Despite numerous attempts to obtain the Winston-Salem State campus police blotter by The News Argus, it is still unavailable. The blotter has not been accessible for public viewing for about 164 days.
The campus police blotter has not been updated since November 2008.
The Argus contacted Lt. Patrick Ansel of the WSSU Police Department, but he was unavailable for comment.
The News Argus has been attempting to examine the blotter to publish some of the crime incidents in the paper since the beginning of the spring semester. Staff members have been making regular visits to campus police office.
By federal law, the campus police blotter is supposed to be available to the campus community as a result of the Jeanne Clery Act. Institutions that fail to comply may be fined or lose eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs.
Mike Hiestand, Student Press Law Center legal consultant, said there is no reason The News Argus should have problems trying to gain access to the campus crime blotter.
“…I can say unequivocally that they [WSSU?Police Department] are breaking the law. You have a right to look at blotter information both under your state open records law and the federal Clery Act,” Hiestand said.
Dr. Phillip Jeter, chair of the Mass Communications Department, said it is hard for him to understand why the blotter is unavailable.
“I think the law is clear on access to this document and these records,” he said.
“I don’t understand why getting access to this public record is becoming a big issue that will bring unwanted publicity to the way things are done at WSSU.”
The blotter was not available when the Argus checked April 24.
A story published in the Winston-Salem Journal April 25, (WSSU falls behind on its crime blotter) noted that the WSSU crime blotter was not available. Click the following link for more details.WSSU falls behind on its crime blotter
Editor’s note: When the Argus staff checked Monday, April 27, the campus police blotter was available for review.