Eoin Higgins v. University of Massachusetts - Amherst (SPR 20210047)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records January 22, 2021 SPR21/0047 Christine M. Wilda Associate Chancellor for Compliance UMass Amherst 340 Whitmore Building 181 President's Drive Amherst, MA 01003 Dear Ms. Wilda: I have received the petition of Eoin Higgins, appealing the response of UMass Amherst (UMass) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On November 23, 2020, Mr. Higgins requested in pertinent part, “… personal college emails of two individuals and identified emails addresses sent to or from 13 identified custodians with identified names or topic matters from July 22, 2019 to September 8, 2020.” Previous appeal This request was the subject of a previous appeal. See SPR20/2432 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (December 22, 2020). Unsatisfied with the response, Mr. Higgins appealed and SPR21/0047 was opened as result. Based upon a conversation between a Public Records Division staff attorney and a UMass representative, it is my understanding that UMass intends on providing a subsequent response to Mr. Higgins. Accordingly, UMass is ordered to provide Mr. Higgins with a response to his request in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law and its Access Regulations within 10 business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Higgins may appeal the substantive nature of UMass' response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Christine M. Wilda SPR21/0047 Page 2 January 22, 2021 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Eoin Higgins