Protest surveillance (University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

May 9, 2024

Via electronic mail
Caroline Haskins
MuckRock News
requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

Re: FOIA Request 24-732

Dear Caroline Haskins:

I am responding to your request dated and received in my office on May 2, 2024, under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in which you requested:

"* Any risk assessments or incident response plans produced by the university between October 7, 2023 and the time that this request is processed that mention any of the following words: "protests," "demonstrations," "picketing," "occupation," "camp," "encampment," "Israel," "Gaza," or "Palestine."

* Any reports or logs about surveillance activities on pro-Palestine or pro-Israel student protesters produced by the university, university police, or local police . These may include written reports based on CCTV camera footage, reports of relevant social media posts, plans for future surveillance, etc.

* Any agreements (including informal, not-signed agreements that would take place over email) or memoranda between the university or university police and local police between October 7, 2023 and the time that this request is processed."

I am writing to invoke an extension of the deadline for responding to the request under the following section(s) of the FOIA, which allows for additional time when:

* 140/3(e)(ii) the request requires the collection of a substantial number of specified records;

* 140/3(e)(vi) the request for records cannot be complied with by the public body within the time limits prescribed by paragraph (c) of this Section without unduly burdening or interfering with the operations of the public body; and

* 140/3(e)(vii) there is a need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another public body or among two or more components of a public body having a substantial interest in the determination or in the subject matter of the request.

We are taking the additional five business days allowed by law to complete processing this request. The revised deadline will now be May 16, 2024.

Sincerely,

Adrienne Nazon
Vice President, External Relations and Communications
and Chief Records Officer

Good evening.
Our office is still processing your request. Would you be agreeable to an extension to next Thursday, May 23, 2024? If we have our response ready sooner, we will respond as soon as possible.
Thank you!
Jamie L. Turpin
Senior Coordinator of FOIA
External Relations and Communications
University of Illinois System
108 Henry Administration Building, MC370
506 S. Wright St., Urbana, IL 61801
217 333 6400 | jlturpin@uillinois.edu<mailto:jlturpin@uillinois.edu>
uillinois.edu<http://www.uillinois.edu/> | X<https://twitter.com/UofILSystem> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/uillinois.edu/> | LinkedIn<http://www.uillinois.edu/>
[cid:image001.png@01DAA7CD.01593A10]<https://www.uillinois.edu/>
Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), any written communication to or from University of Illinois employees regarding U of I business is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure.

May 22, 2024

Via electronic mail
Caroline Haskins
MuckRock News
requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

Re: FOIA Request 24-732

Dear Caroline Haskins:

I am responding to your request dated and received in my office on May 2, 2024, under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in which you requested:

"* Any risk assessments or incident response plans produced by the university between October 7, 2023 and the time that this request is processed that mention any of the following words: "protests," "demonstrations," "picketing," "occupation," "camp," "encampment," "Israel," "Gaza," or "Palestine."

* Any reports or logs about surveillance activities on pro-Palestine or pro-Israel student protesters produced by the university, university police, or local police . These may include written reports based on CCTV camera footage, reports of relevant social media posts, plans for future surveillance, etc.

* Any agreements (including informal, not-signed agreements that would take place over email) or memoranda between the university or university police and local police between October 7, 2023 and the time that this request is processed."

Information responsive to your request is available and attached. These are public records numbering 5 pages. Portions of these records have been redacted or withheld pursuant to the following section(s) of the Act:

* 140/7(1)(b) that exempts from disclosure "Private information, unless disclosure is required by another provision of this Act, a State or federal law or a court order." This includes personal telephone numbers.

* Section 140/7(1)(d)(i) exempts records that would "interfere with pending or actually and reasonably contemplated law enforcement proceedings conducted by any law enforcement or correctional agency that is the recipient of the request;" The records include information law enforcement agencies use in response to emergency and safety situations.

* Section 140/7(1)(d)(v) exempts records that would "disclose unique or specialized investigative techniques other than those generally used and known or disclose internal documents of correctional agencies related to detection, observation or investigation of incidents of crime or misconduct, and disclosure would result in demonstrable harm to the agency or public body that is the recipient of the request." This includes safety plans.

* 140/7(1)(f) that exempts from disclosure "Preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, memoranda, and other records in which opinions are expressed, or policies or actions are formulated, except that a specific record or relevant portion of a record shall not be exempt when the record is publicly cited and identified by the head of the public body." This includes pre-decisional communications containing deliberative opinions, notes, and recommendations.

* 140/7(1)(o) that exempts from disclosure "Administrative or technical information associated with automated data processing operations, including, but not limited to, software, operating protocols, computer program abstracts, file layouts, source listings, object modules, load modules, user guides, documentation pertaining to all logical and physical design of computerized systems, employee manuals, and any other information that, if disclosed, would jeopardize the security of the system or its data or the security of materials exempt under this Section." This includes computer access information.

Please note, a search was conducted for "Any agreements (including informal, not-signed agreements that would take place over email) or memoranda between the university or university police and local police between October 7, 2023 and the time that this request is processed" and no records were located.

You have a right under the law to seek a review of this response by the Public Access Counselor (PAC) in the Office of the Attorney General. The PAC may be reached by phone at 877.299.3642, by email at public.access@ilag.gov<mailto:public.access@ilag.gov> or by postal mail to Leah Bartelt, Public Access Counselor, Office of the Illinois Attorney General, 500 South 2nd Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. You also have the right to seek judicial review under section 11 of this Act.

If you have questions for our office, please contact 217-333-6400.

Sincerely,

Adrienne Nazon
Vice President, External Relations and Communications
and Chief Records Officer