So much for grass-roots democracy.

An incident of miscommunication involving U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-14th District, shows how even good intentions can have bad results. Foster agreed to attend a May 16 student assembly at Community High School in West Chicago, and the school believed this would be a newsworthy event. An invitation was sent May 12 via e-mail to Suburban Life Publications to send a reporter and photographer to cover the assembly.

On the morning of the assembly, a follow-up e-mail from the school was sent to Suburban Life Publications stating members of Foster’s staff told school officials media coverage would not be allowed. The reporter and photographer did not receive the information in time and were told to leave the school before the assembly began.

Shannon O’Brien, Foster’s communications director, issued a statement to Suburban Life Publications about why his staff closed the event to the media. She said Foster “wanted to have an open and honest conversation about the issues that matter to (the students) the most” (read the full statement at www.mysuburbanlife.com).

If there was any concern about students not wanting to express their views to Foster with the media present, wouldn’t it have come from the school?

At issue is not journalist access to Foster. Rather, the issue here is Foster’s staff deciding when or if the media can cover a newsworthy event. Once the school decides it wants reporters present at a student assembly, Foster’s staff shouldn’t veto its choice.