The Society of Professional Journalists, SPJ, has granted Virginia Tech's student newspaper, the Collegiate Times, $1,000 to help fund the cost of an open records lawsuit the paper filed against the West Virginia State Police for refusing to disclose records related to the 1998 disappearance of Virginia Tech student Robert Kovack. "We get calls from people who knew Robert Kovack, who are pinning for more information, and as much as we value talking to witnesses, friends and family members, every good journalist is going to work to get police documentation," said Collegiate Times editorial adviser Kelly Furnas. As reason for withholding the records, the state police cited an exemption in West Virginia's open records law that states that police records will remain closed when they are part of an ongoing investigation where disclosure could compromise the investigation. But, Collegiate Times staff members said they don't feel releasing the records will hurt the investigation, but instead could aid in it. "We have to believe more information is good for the investigation and people interested in the story," Furnas said. All other legal costs in association with the lawsuit come from the paper's operating budget. "We're having some tough times financially so every little penny helps," Furnas said. "What's important is the feeling behind the grant - to have SPJ people support us financially and in spirit is a long way to let us know we're doing the right thing and people will stand behind us through difficult times."
Meagan O'Toole-Pitts, city editor
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