CDA Press: NIC, Open That Candidate Forum

We’re not going to spend a lot of energy arguing that North Idaho College is breaking the law by prohibiting the general public from attending a candidate forum next week. We will suggest, though, that the college is missing a great opportunity to build bridges with its critics. For years, NIC has hosted candidate forums focusing on issues of importance to students, staff, faculty and administration. For years, the media and campus figures, including members of the board of trustees, have been welcome to attend, while the general public has not. And for years, nobody has raised a stink. Until now.
Earlier this week, former state Rep. Gary Ingram objected to the general public’s exclusion from the forum. Ingram knows something about Idaho’s open meetings laws; he wrote ‘em. However, acting on a question from state Sen. John Goedde, the Attorney General’s office said the forum does not violate the state statute, and that NIC is well within its rights to admit and lock out whomever it chooses. For the rest of the Coeur d’Alene Press editorial, click here .

Question: Do you agree with Gary Ingram and the Press that the forum should be open to the public?