How does access to government records allow the public to know if their institutions are functioning properly? One example would be finding out that a wealthy donor offered a big donation to the UW in exchange for the university firing the football coach and athletic director, reports the Seattle Times. And then seeing if the donor was successful--that is, does money get its way all the time at the UW.
This Tacoma News-Tribune editorial discusses the link between the Public Records Act and finding out what was going on at the UW.