The release Friday of the details of Kansas University Athletic Director Lew Perkins’ compensation package provides a piece of information that Kansas residents deserved to have.

The Journal-World pursued the release of Perkins’ complete salary package because it believed that information fell under the Kansas Open Records Act and should be open to public examination. A district court judge agreed with that argument and ordered KU officials to provide the information. KU officials deserve credit for deciding to release the salary details rather than prolonging the issue by appealing the judge’s ruling. Withholding the information only increased the public’s suspicion that something was amiss.

The Journal-World pursued this open records issue as part of its mission to serve the public and protect its right to obtain information to which it legally is entitled. That’s our job, but it in no way diminishes our overall support for the state’s flagship university, which calls Lawrence home.