CornellOrdered to Release Biotech Documents

CornellOrdered to Release Biotech Documents

ITHACA, New York, November 8, 2002 (ENS) - The New York Supreme Court has ruledthat Cornell University must turn over documents about its

biotechnology research to a former talk show host who is seeking the materialthrough the state's Freedom of Information law. A panel of five judges in theNew York State Appellate Division Third Department ruled unanimously thatCornell University is subject to the Freedom Of Information Law, and must turnover documents pertaining to
its biotech research.

"We still have another round to go, and no one can predict what the finaloutcome will be, but we're getting closer to the day when we may get a lookinside the academic-industrial complex," said Jeremy Alderson, who broughtthe suit against Cornell.

Alderson, a former public radio talk show host, filed suit in December 2000against Cornell, its New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences andthe New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva.

He asked for a variety of documents, including financial information, corporatecontracts and risk assessments on biotech research conducted at the university.He is also seeking information on field tests of genetically engineered crops,and potential tenants of a new agriculture and technology park.

Alderson says he fears that biotechnology research and field tests conducted byCornell have not undergone stringent risk assessments, and could threaten thelocal environment, agriculture and public health.

Cornell's attorneys have argued that Cornell's four contract colleges, includingthe College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Agricultural ExperimentStation, are private institutions, not subject to the state's Freedom ofInformation Law, which provides public access to most public records andmeetings.

But Alderson's lawyers say that because the contract colleges receive statefunds, they should be covered by the law. So far, New York's courts have agreed.

"Notably, Cornell, the private institution legislatively charged with theoperation of the statutory colleges on behalf of SUNY, is authorized to publiclydisseminate the results of any scientific investigation or experiments conductedby the Ag station," said Justice Carl Mugglin, who wrote Thursday's courtdecision.

Cornell officials say they will not release the records to Alderson until allappeals are exhausted.

"Cornell has put out PR saying that they know their work is safe becausethey've conducted risk assessments," Alderson said. "But when you askto see them, they say no. Makes you wonder what they're hiding, doesn'tit?"