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[[underlined]]Open Meetings of the Board of Regents[[/underlined]]

In September, the Board of Regents discussed whether all or part of its regular meetings should be open to the public.

This discussion was prompted by the recommendations of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees that the Board consider holding public meetings. In addition, some members of the press in Washington have for the past year requested that the meetings be public. These reporters have been told that the Board had the matter under study. The reporters have asked why it has taken so long for a decision to be reached.

There is no legal requirement that the Board hold public meetings, but it is apparent that such a decision would be greeted favorably by the press and interested members of Congress.

After the May 1978 meeting and again after the September meeting, full summaries of the Regents' proceedings were furnished to all members of the five Congressional subcommittees which assert regular jurisdiction over the Institution. In addition, full briefings were conducted for members of the press.

Despite the obvious advantages from public perspective, open meetings of the Board of Regents pose an unusual difficulty. Since members carry heavy responsibilities and since many of them live away from Washington, the Regents rely heavily on the discussions at the meetings for information on which to base their decisions. To inhibit these discussions would serve neither the Institution nor the public who are its constitutents. Public meetings would strengthen the Institution's reputation for oppenness and candor but at the risk of