NC State says it will process public records despite message indicating temporary pause

NC State is obligated to fulfill records requests in a timely manner, and public records have played an important role in the public's understanding of Poe Hall, a university building which was shut down after testing revealed high levels of toxic chemicals inside multiple spaces in the building.

Posted 9:38 p.m. May 10 — Updated 9:38 p.m. May 10

Keely Arthur

, WRAL consumer reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina State University spokesperson informed WRAL News that there will be “no interruption in receiving or processing records in May,” marking a departure from an earlier message from the university’s public records office suggesting requests “may be” handled “later than usual.”

Public records have played an important role in the public’s understanding of Poe Hall, a university building that was shut down last year after testing revealed high levels of toxic chemicals inside multiple spaces in the building. The testing was prompted by a group of workers battling cancer who complained to several outside agencies including the Department of Labor, and Environmental Protection Agency.

As a public institution, NC State is obligated to fulfill records requests in a timely manner. WRAL News has filed more than 15 requests regarding Poe Hall. In some cases, the university took up to five months to fulfill the requests, some requests remain unfulfilled.

Records reveal concerns over NC State's Poe Hall go back decades

The concern for potentially more delays was prompted by a message sent from NC State’s records office in response to a recent records request inquiry, this week. The message stated the office would be closed the week of May 20-27, 2024, and would resume operations on Tuesday, May 28.

An NC State spokesperson told 5 On Your Side the “confusion” stemmed from a worker in the office taking a vacation that same week. The spokesperson told WRAL 5 On Your Side the office would continue to process and receive without interruption. When WRAL 5 On Your Side filed a records request later that week, the outgoing message had changed, indicating the office would only be closed on major holidays.

WRAL 5 On Your Side has received more than 190 reports of cancer from people who worked or studied Poe Hall. The university says it is testing the building to determine if there is any connection between the cancer cases and the building, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is conducting a separate investigation.

Recently, a former graduate student battling leukemia filed a petition against NC State claiming the university was “delaying justice” by not allowing independent investigators inside the building to sample Poe Hall’s environment. A superior judge ruled in favor of the petitioner and deemed the court proceedings public, despite NC State’s efforts to seal court documents and close court.

NC State has yet to fulfill several public records requests regarding Poe Hall, some of which were filed months ago. NC State blamed the delay on “a large number of complex requests.” NC State says records requests may take up to a year to fulfill, much longer than the typical timeframe.

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