Univ. of Illinois communications and documents regarding Chief Illiniwek

Conor Skelding filed this request with the University of Illinois of Illinois.
Tracking #

13-532
Submitted Nov. 5, 2013
Est. Completion None
Status
Withdrawn

From: Conor Skelding

Subject: None

None

To Whom It May Concern:

Persuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1 to 11), I hereby request the following records:

Any and all emails, memoranda, letters, or other communications sent by the University of Illinois Board or Trustees, the Department of Athletics, or the Division of Public Safety (or sent on their behalf) that include the below terms. I also request any and all reports or documents created by the University of Illinois Board or Trustees, the Department of Athletics, or the Division of Public Safety (or created on their behalf) that include the below terms.

Here are the terms:

- Chief Illiniwek
- Logan Ponce
- Ivan Dozier
- The Honor the Chief Society
- Three-In-One

I seek responsive records created between February 1, 2007 and the date when this request is processed.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Conor Skelding

From: University of Illinois FOIA

Subject: None

None

November 12, 2013

Conor Skelding
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 8804
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819
requests@muckrock.com

Re: FOIA #13-532

Dear Mr. Skelding:

I write to respond to your Freedom of Information request of November 5, 2013, and received in my office on that date, in which you requested:

"...Any and all emails, memoranda, letters, or other communications sent by the University of Illinois Board or Trustees, the Department of Athletics, or the Division of Public Safety (or sent on their behalf) that include the below terms. I also request any and all reports or documents created by the University of Illinois Board or Trustees, the Department of Athletics, or the Division of Public Safety (or created on their behalf) that include the below terms.

Here are the terms:

- Chief Illiniwek
- Logan Ponce
- Ivan Dozier
- The Honor the Chief Society
- Three-In-One

I seek responsive records created between February 1, 2007 and the date when this request is processed."

Our office has conducted a preliminary search for the documents.

Your request for documents and information listed in your email is considered unduly burdensome to the University, inasmuch as the request would unduly burden the public body by requiring the search, identification and review of nearly seven years' worth of thousands of pages of records from hundreds of employees in multiple offices. Pursuant to Section 3(g) of the Act, we would like to extend to you an opportunity to modify your request to make it of more manageable proportions. Since each department referenced in your request files their documents in a different manner, I encourage you to call Kathy McCarthy or myself at the phone number below to discuss ways your request can be narrowed. If you do not reduce the request, it shall be treated as a denial.

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 217-782-1396, by email to publicaccess@atg.state.il.us, or by postal mail at the Public Access Bureau, 500 S. 2nd Street, Springfield, Illinois 62706. You also have the right to seek judicial review under section 11 of this Act.

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss how to narrow the scope of your request, please contact me at 217-333-6400.

Sincerely,

Thomas P. Hardy
Executive Director
and Chief Records Officer