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WIAA Would Be Subject To Public Records Laws Under GOP Plan

High School Athletics Association Has Come Under Fire For Its Taunting Policy

By
Nathan Hale Sentinel (CC-BY-NC-ND)

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, which has come under fire for its recent attempts to curb certain forms of speech by students, may soon have to comply with state open records laws.

The WIAA received national media attention after a December memo from the organization discouraged chants like “airball.”

In response to the controversy, Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, has introduced a bill that would make the WIAA subject to state open records laws. He said the bill aims to increase transparency.

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“The WIAA has governmental power and should be treated as a governmental entity,” he said.

The WIAA, a private nonprofit that receives no state funding, is opposed to the bill.

“Passing this bill opens door to eliminating privacy protections for many Wisconsin nonprofits,” said Dave Anderson, the the association’s executive director.

The bill passed out of committee and now heads to the full Assembly.

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