Kimberlee Kruesi.

A new lawsuit against Brown University has sparked debate over the secrecy of law enforcement at private colleges. Unlike public institutions, private universities often don’t have to disclose arrest records or incident reports. This lack of transparency has been criticized by watchdog groups. The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island is challenging this practice, arguing that Brown’s police should comply with public records laws. Brown has filed a motion to dismiss the suit. Currently, only a few states require private college police departments to follow public records laws. The ACLU is representing journalists denied access to Brown’s arrest reports.