News-Record.com

Here's how utterly frustrating covering the issue of the new drug treament center in Guilford County can be.

Paul Nagy, a Duke University consultant to county mental health officials, attended a tour and news conference regarding the facility Wednesday afternoon.

But when approached later, face to face, for an interview, he declined to talk for the record. I would have to clear it first with Duke officials.

Was he kidding?

No, he said. It's school policy. (A colleague in the newsroom had to jump through no such hoops to contact a Duke law professor on a constitutional issue.)

So, even though we were standing there, face to face, and even though he is being paid by Guilford County taxpayers to be there, I'd have to call him on the phone later. After getting clearance from someone else.

So I called Duke News Bureau, as Nagyinstructed, which referred me to the Duke Medical Center news bureau --. where I got a voice mail, then a callback from a very pleasant person. She asked the nature of my questions, then said she would attempt to contact Nagy.

She called back to say she couldn't reach him.

Two days later I still have yet to hear from him, even though he attended and spoke at Thursday night's commissioners meeting.

Here's the rub: Nagy is being paid by Guilford County taxpayers to do work on behalf of the county. Should he not be willing to talk to local media as well?

County Mental Health Director Billie Martin Pierce said she would attempt to get Nagy to make himself available for an interview.

Maybe Duke is gun-shy in the wake of the lacrosse case. But this is ridiculous.