Recordings of a May 5 closed-door meeting released Wednesday by the Colorado State University governing board all but confirm that board members violated state open-meetings laws, first in discussing the candidacy of Joe Blake, a member of the board, and then again in making the decision that he would be their choice as sole finalist for the university’s new standalone chancellor position.

CSU decided to release the recordings in response to pressure placed on the board by attorneys for The Colorado Independent and The Coloradoan and the Pueblo Chieftain newspapers. The media outlets have filed a joint suit against the CSU board alleging that it violated state transparency laws when its members held discussions and made decisions about hiring Blake behind closed doors.

Near the end of the newly released recordings, board Chairman Doug Jones said:

Does anybody object to putting Joe Blake’s name as the sole and single candidate for chancellor of Colorado State University System. Any objection? One. OK.

We will then adjourn and go into open session and vote…[section redacted] for votes on two votes. Vote on the acceptance of the committee report and the motion on the candidate.