Editor’s Note: This picture was not used for the original story. It’s Friday, let’s have a little fun!

From The Standard: (Missouri State University)

By Jess Rollins

When Former Attorney General John Ashcroft gave a speech at Hammons Hall last Wednesday, he did not allow the media or the public to make audio recordings of what he said.

However, Ashcroft told the university through his agency that he would allow a recording for “archival use only,” so the university recorded it.

Five days later, the recording was not placed into the university archives. Instead, it was returned to the Harry Walker Agency, which represents Ashcroft, because the university could not meet specific terms set by the agency, according to June McHaney, the university’s custodian of records.

On Sept. 18, The Standard was informed by McHaney that the university no longer had a copy of the recording.

“It was determined that the university could not comply with certain terms and conditions regarding the recording,” McHaney said.

Heartland Regional Council of the Institute of Management Accountants, the private sponsor of the event, did not make the university aware of the exact conditions pertaining to the term “archival use,” university attorney John Black said.

It is unclear whether the university requested the clarification of the term “archival use” or one was offered by the Harry Walker Agency.

Black said his office was told by the Harry Walker Agency that “archival use” is limited to current students and faculty of Missouri State.

Black told The Standard in an interview Wednesday that the university’s archives ex-tend beyond faculty and students and are open to the public.

Because of this, Black said, the recording could not be placed in the archives and was sent to the Harry Walker Agency at its request.

Among the documents The Standard received from McHaney was a letter dated Sept. 17, written by university attorney John Black and addressed to Fiona McNiff of the Harry Walker Agency.

“You have now advised that your position concerning permissible archival use is limited to current students and faculty of Missouri State University, and that if that condition cannot be met, the recordings should be returned to your office on behalf of Mr. Ashcroft,” Black stated in the letter. Read more…

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