Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012

ATLANTA (AP) -- Changes to Georgia's open government laws may have an unintended consequence at the state's universities if student disciplinary hearings are no longer open to the public.

The Red & Black, an independent student newspaper at the University of Georgia, recently requested records from student conduct hearings.

Red & Black Publisher Harry Montevideo told The Associated Press that UGA cited the new state law in denying the newspaper access to the records.

The Fulton County Daily Report reports that lawyers for UGA and Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens are now trying to determine whether the new law allows the school to close student disciplinary hearings. Such hearings have been open to the public since 1993.

Georgia's open government laws were revamped by the state Legislature during its 2012 session.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)