The University of Missouri has recently found itself embroiled in a dispute with one of its law school faculty members who has announced his candidacy for Attorney General of the State of Missouri. That announcement caused a third person to make a request of the University for copies of emails exchanged between other University personnel and the candidate in regard to his candidacy shortly before his announcement.
These are not emails related to a personal email account. They are emails exchanged using the University’s email system and one would think that the candidate, like any employee, would understand that there is no expectation of privacy in regard to emails exchanged in an employer’s email system.
Regardless, the candidate has objected to their release, claiming that their release would, among other things, violate his copyright in the content.
The University, however, has indicated that it has every intention in making the copies requested under the Sunshine Law. This astounds me, because just last year the University itself made this argument in its refusal to make copies of its faculty syllibi for a requester who sought the data in order to compare the quality of education students receive at various universities around the country.
Oh. Sure. That’s different.
Makes me glad that I am not a UM-C alumni. Perhaps logic is not a course taught at their law school.