Virginia Law Allows the Papers of University Presidents to Stay Secret, Limiting Public Oversight.

A provision in Virginia state law allows the papers of university presidents to remain secret even after they step down from their positions. This exemption was discovered when journalists requested archival material from Christopher Newport University regarding the uprooting of a Black neighborhood during the university's establishment and expansion. The university cited a 49-year-old amendment in the Virginia code that exempts the "working papers and correspondence" of university presidents from disclosure. This exemption has been criticized for limiting public oversight and transparency, and legislative proposals to repeal or narrow it have been unsuccessful. [Extracted from the article]