NEW YORK — A state supreme court judge in January denied an appeal by Cornell University in a freedom of information case started when a radio show host sought access to information about the university’s planned agriculture and technology park in the nearby city of Geneva.
\nIn 2000, Jeremy Alderson, then-host of National Public Radio program “The Nobody Show,” said the project would have an adverse effect on area wildlife and crops, and sued Cornell when it refused to release documents about the site.
\nThe park is to be used for biotech research of genetically engineered crops.
\nThe state court decision followed an earlier ruling that since Cornell’s agricultural school is affiliated with the State University of New York system, the university is obligated to release its records under the state open-records law.
\nAlderson’s show was broadcast on WEOS Geneva, a station owned by Hobart and William Smith Colleges. It has since been canceled.n
\nCASE: Alderson v. Cornell Univ., No. 2000-1150 (Sup. Ct. Tompkins Cty. Jan. 11, 2002)