From the Beaufort Observer (5/16/11): There's a fight going on in Chapel Hill and Raleigh that few people in Beaufort County, we suspect, are paying much attention to. But nonetheless it is extremely significant to every person in Beaufort County and will be even more significant to our children and grandchildren.
Here’ the short version. The Carolina athletic program got into hot water with the NCAA over some recruiting improprieties. Seems some of the athletes were getting perks they were not supposed to be getting, or so some are saying. That is the underlying story. But the story that is being fought is a story about public officials trying to hide public information.
You see, there’s a Federal law that shields student records. So when the news media asked for some public records related to the athletic scandal the University officials refused because they contended they were confidential student records. Even some of the information the University said were confidential health records. Fine, but here’s the kicker. What the media was asking for, among other things, that was denied was records of parking tickets.
The case perfectly illustrates what is wrong with the public records law in North Carolina.