Judge Orders COD Foundation Turn Over Federal Subpoena to Chicago Tribune

GLEN ELLYN, IL - A ruling in favor of The Chicago Tribune Thursday could go down in the history books after a judge decided the College of DuPage must turn over a federal subpoena, which the college and it's fund-raising body have fought to keep out of the hands of reporters.

The Chicago Tribune reports:

DuPage County Judge Robert Gibson's decision is widely believed to be the first of its kind in Illinois dealing with the public disclosure of records in the possession of a public university's support organization.

As part of a yearlong investigation into college spending and contracts, the Tribune sued COD and the foundation in April to obtain various documents that reporters were refused after they filed open records requests. The college later provided most of the records but the issue regarding a request for a federal grand jury subpoena to the foundation remained outstanding.

In his ruling, the judge found that while the foundation is technically not a public body, it conducts government business and is subject to open records requests.

The College of DuPage now has until April 19 to turn over the subpoena or indicate that they would appeal the ruling, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The College of DuPage has been under state and federal criminal investigation for several months and, in October, the COD Board fired former embattled president Robert Breuder. That vote came after the College of DuPage and Breuder were under fire for months regarding its finances and administrative practices and Breuder has been the subject of public scrutiny regarding a $762,867 severance package the former board of trustees approved, according to the Daily Herald.

A Chicago Tribune investigation published in September revealed a private locker room meant for College of DuPage President Robert Breuder and select senior administrators at the college’s fitness facility was among the many lavish, vanity projects funded during Breuder’s tenure.

At that time, the Tribune obtained documents under the Freedom of Information Act that showed Breuder ordered to have a handicapped-accessible, family bathroom turned into a private changing area as part of $24 million in renovations to the Chaparral Fitness Center. The locker room had a sign outside that read, ”authorized personnel only” and a keypad.

The $15,000 locker room was far from the most expensive of the projects, which included a $220,000 wall that chronicled Breuder’s and other past presidents accomplishments and a decision to open a high-end restaurant on campus where Breuder expensed hundreds of thousands in meals and drinks, but the Chicago Tribune reports it did “reinforce an image and leadership style at odds with the mission of a publicly funded community college.”

More via the Chicago Tribune

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