The law enforcement arm of the private university, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has contended that it doesn't have to comply with state records laws, and the Utah Records Committee has agreed.
But The Salt Lake Tribune is scheduled to argue in court Monday that because the state granted the department full policing powers — the same as any other public law enforcement agency in Utah — it should be open to public scrutiny.
After BYU police refused to release records of communication between the department and the Mormon school's Honor Code and Title IX Offices, the records committee declined to review the newspaper's appeal. The Tribune filed a challenge to that decision in 3rd District Court.