Violating the Illinois Open Meetings Act puts the Student Government in position to implement more changes to committee procedures before any meetings are held this semester.

“It obviously wasn’t our intent to break the Open Meetings Act,” said Cole Rogers, student body president. “It was just never brought to our attention.”

While discussing plans for appointing new chairpersons to nine committees, newly elected Speaker of the Senate, Megan Ogulnick, admitted that committee minutes are not available because bylaws do not require minutes to be taken.

She said she expects her new appointees to compile minutes during meetings to enhance communication and organization within the senate.

Ogulnick was unaware that the Senate was in violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

“The issue regarding the Open Meetings Act is something that I was unaware of,” Rogers said. “I did not know that the committees needed to keep minutes at their individual meetings.”

Rogers was speaking on behalf of the executive board in admitting misunderstanding of the law compared to noncompliance of the law.

“It is something, however, that we will begin doing right away,” Rogers said. “It has never been done (during) my time on Senate and was never really a topic of discussion.”

The law mandates records are made of time accounted for on behalf of the public and in use of public money. Eastern benefits from public tax money and students pay tuition and fees with publicly funded grant money.

“All public bodies shall keep written minutes of all their open meetings,” the law reads. “Minutes shall include, but not limited to the date, time and place of the meeting; the members of the public body recorded as either present or absent; and a summary of discussion on all matters proposed, deliberated, or decided, and a record of any votes taken.”

Media law expert James Tidwell said accumulating minutes for weekly Senate meetings is not enough and referred to the definition of a public entity within the law.

“Public body” is defined to include “all legislative, executive, administrative or advisory bodies of the state, counties, townships, cities, villages, incorporated towns, school districts and all other municipal corporations, boards, bureaus, committees or commissions of this state, and any subsidiary bodies of any of the forgoing including but not limited to committees and subcommittees which are supported in whole or in part by tax revenue, except the General Assemble and Committees or commissions thereof.”

University representatives were silent on the subject.

“I am unable to give an opinion or provide public comment on specific legal matters affecting the University,” said Robert Miller, Eastern’s general council. “I will be glad to provide legal insight or commentary on general legal topics as they arise.”

While committee minutes were not available, Ogulnick was willing to release available senator reports and overview documents pertaining to each committee.

Rick Kambic can be reached at 581-7942 or rwkambic@eiu.edu.