Kaleb Poor
An investigation by the Casper Star-Tribune and WyoFile has revealed that the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees used an outside law firm to investigate Laurie Nichols immediately preceding her unexpected dismissal as President of the university. The Trustees’ investigation concluded just two days before the Trustees flew to Arizona to inform Nichols that her contract would not be renewed.
Details on the nature of the Trustees’ investigation remain scarce, but the Star-Tribune reports that one unnamed source, who was contacted as part of their investigation, alleged that it was “focused on the nature of Nichols’ interactions with people.”
UW’s general counsel has not complied with reporters’ requests for records related to the Trustees’ investigation and Nichols’ dismissal. The Casper Star-Tribune, Wyofile, Laramie Boomerang and Wyoming Tribune Eagle have filed a lawsuit over the release of those records, claiming that the records constitute “a legitimate public interest.” That lawsuit is ongoing.
On Oct. 15, Nichols’ Laramie-based attorney, Megan Overmann Goetz, filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit and allow Nichols to review the contested records before the former president decides whether or not to support UW’s position. In the filing, Goetz restated that Nichols was unaware of the Trustees reasoning and had a right to see the records in question.
“When Nichols was informed that her contract with the University of Wyoming would not be renewed, she inquired with (the trustees) as to the reasons why,” Goetz wrote in her filing. “At all relevant inquiries, (the trustees) would not disclose any such reasons to Nichols.”
Officials representing the University of Wyoming have refused to comment on matters related to either the investigation or its origins as well as the ongoing lawsuit, citing legal restrictions and ongoing litigation.
“I really can’t get into that,” Board of Trustees Chairman Dave True told the Branding Iron Wed. “It’s all in the hands of the judge now.”
The lawsuit against UW was filed under the Wyoming Public Records Act, which states that governmental agencies have limited authority to withhold records related to personnel or investigations. The Act states, however, that a governmental agency can only do so in the event that release of those records “would be contrary to the public interest.”
Nichols is now serving as the interim President at Black Hills State University and is one of four finalists for a position at the University of Nebraska‒Lincoln as Executive Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.
The Branding Iron has reached out to Nichols and her attorney as well as UW’s Office of General Counsel for comment. None have yet responded to those requests but are encouraged to do so as this story develops.
