Wednesday, august 24, .1977
daily nebrsskan
Regents' strings tightened little by court ruling
By Mary Jo Pitzl t
The Nebraska Supreme Court ruling heralded as a
significant step in clarifying NU government has had littlv
visible impact since the July 27 decision, say sources from
both sides of the case.
"It really doesn't change anything drastically," NU
Board of Regents chairman Robert Simmons said of the
court case between the Board of Regents and the State of
Nebraska.
The Scottsbluff regent said he sees "no changes of
great significance' in the ruling, but added that it defines
where the power and responsibility for NU government
lie.
Last month the regents case went to court seeking
settlement of a nearly two year debate with the Legis
lature over control of university purse strings.
The Supreme Court ruled that the regents are
responsible for spending university-generated funds and
determining NU employee raises. The ruling also reiterat
ed the right of the Legislature to control all monies
appropriated to the university through general state
revenue.
Debate stewing
Debate has been stewing for several years over the
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extent of legislative control of the university. Article
VII, section 10, of the Constitution of Nebraska states
that the Legislature may prescribe the duties and powers
of the Board of Regents, but must vest general
government of the university in the regents. This clause
created a gray area outlining university responsibility in
the past.
The July 27 ruling clarifies the duties of the Legislature
and the Board of Regents, according to William Erskine,
executive vice president of administration.
"The Legislature, as we saw it, was entering too far
into the management of the university ,w Erskine said.
"The decision has made it clear that the management of
university funds is with the regents," he said, adding that
responsibility for university dollars now stops with the
regents, rather than the Legislature.
Despite the court's ruling, they (the Legislature)
will still want to know how the university is operating its
money. We are still dependent on the state appropriation
for' the major part of the university budget " Erskine said.
Budget funding
t The NU budget is financed by state tax dollars, tuition,
federally supported dollars and a revolving fund, accord
ing to Erskine. The 1977-78 budget of $161,70152
includes $101,009, 685 instate aid.
The regents' new authority over university funds will(
mean less detail oh NU's legislative budget bill and less
pressure on the Legislature's Appropriations Committee,
according to Sen. Jerome Warner, committee chairman.
Since the regents .ow are responsible for university
generated funds, the need for an appropriation line for
cash funds is eliminated from the budget bill, the Waverly
senator said.
Warner speculated that the regents will feel the brunt
of any criticism the ruling brings about. ' ,
"Criticism will be directed at the regents for the way
ted." Warner said.
Issues formerly resolved by the Legislature riow are
transferred to the regents, Warner said.
"The Board of Regents will be the final court of
appeals," Warner said. "The regents will come out with
more responsibility and with that comes more pressure. '
Although Warner agrees that the court ruling is a major
decision in NU government, he foresees few problems
between the regents and the Legislature.
Skepticism
While most state officials and NU administrators seem
to share Warner's sentiments, one state senator is skeptical
of the court ruling's benefits.
Utica Sen. Douglas Bereuter said he thinks re
percussions of the court ruling may hurt students in the
long run. ,
"I'm just not certain there will be as much confidence
in the Legislature as a whole in the decision of the Board
of Regents or any other policy-making body as there
would be exhibited in one of the Legislature's own com
mittees " Bereuter said.
This could result in lower legislative appropriations to
the university, since the Legislature may be less generous
in allocating state tax dolls.,, over which they have no
control, said Bereuter, appropriations committee member.
The impact of lower appropriation often, results in
cutbacks in academic services, according, to Bereuter.
Undergraduate students primarily would be affected
by these cutbacks because they have no professional
lobbying in their behalf, he said.
"Most of the things that have benefitted students have
been a result of legislative initiative," Bereuter said.
Omaha Regent Kermit Hansen has voiced hope that
the regents will receive the lump sum amount. Bereuter
said another lawsuit may be necessary to clarify that
question, " . " v
Intern program
A program offering economics and business students
from foreign countries the . opportunity to work in
American companies has brought two students to UNL.
Maryann Rohner, 22, Schaffhausen, Switzerland and
Manfred Bauer, 28, Koln, Germany, are here on intern
ship programs.
In the program, firms and institutions in 55 countries
make temporary positions available for students from
other countries, Tnis gives students the opportunity to
observe how foreign businesses are managed.
UNL is the participating program in the U.S., from
June 1 to Sept. 15. The students will be working through
the Business and. Finance Dept. " V ' V
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