October 21, 2004

Hon. Arnett C. Mace, Jr.

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Office of Academic Affairs

University of Georgia

203 Administration Building

Athens, Georgia 30602

Dear Dean Mace:

I am writing on behalf of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation. Our organization seeks to advance the cause of open government and monitors freedom of information issues throughout this state.

It has come to our attention that you met with fourteen deans on August 23^rd, September 23^rd, and October 14^th, 2004 to discuss budget and policy issues; other deans may have been present as well. However, in violation of O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1 et seq., these meetings were not open to the public, nor were they noticed properly. Moreover, we understand that these meetings are a regularly scheduled occurrence. This practice is contrary to the Open Meetings Act and the state’s public policy. The discussions during your meetings are exactly the type of debate that must take place in the open for the public to have confidence in institutions such as yours’.

I have enclosed fifteen copies of Georgia’s Sunshine Laws: A Citizen’s Guide to Open Government, which discusses the Open Meetings Act as well as other open government issues pertinent to your work. Similarly, this foundation would be pleased to visit with you and conduct a workshop on the mechanics of both the Open Meetings and Open Records laws.

We would appreciate an explanation as to what will be done to remedy this Open Meetings violation that goes against both the law and the interest of the public. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Hollie Manheimer

Enclosures