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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 19, 1979)
thurtdr, cp 19, 1979 vol. 102 no. 113, Lincoln, nttr&ka Regent chairman to reply . - 1 4,.4 1 V ...- ft hw to NU cover up charges By Rocky Strunk Phdtd by Bob Pearson Regent Robert Prokop NU Regent Chairman Robert Koefoot of Grand Island will meet with six state senators today at 4:30 to discuss allegat ions by Regent Robert Prokop of a "cover up" of information by university officials. ' "We feel that Prokop had some legiti mate gripes and want an opportunity to hear both sides of the controversy " said Sen. Harold Sieck of Pleasant Dale. Sieck and five state senators met with Prokop on Tuesday after Prokop had sent them a seven page letter. x In 'this letter, Prokop charged that the university tried to "cover up" information about the Eppley Institute in Omaha, veterinary testing fees at the agricultural in stitute based in Lincoln, faculty consult antships and the University Foundation. He also stated that it was "one of the biggest cover-ups of information and detail that one could find in the state of Ne braska." Total complexity "I think we should dig into this matter further," said Sieck after the hour meeting with Prokop on Tuesday. "From what's been reported here, I do feel something looks a bit shady.1 Sen. GeorJBurrows of Adams, said, nld like to go much further. The account ability and funding at the University has been buried in total complexity." According to Burrows, one of the most serious management problems at the uni versity may be a situation where the Uni- ciiwarMcopi denies Prokop charges By R$ndy Essex NU Regent Ed Schwartzkopf saiJ Wed nesday Regent Robert Prokop "is "way off base" in his charges of cover-ups by the NU Board of Regents and the UNL administra tion. ' :Y i The Lincoln regent said the only reason he can imagine for Prokop's charges is that Willard Waldo, who tan against Prokop the last time he was up for election, uses the Veterinary and Diagnostic Testing Labor atory on East Campus. In a letter to seven state senators, Pro kop charged that the lab had done $191,123 worth of free testing for seven corporations and individuals during a 24-30 month period. "l cannot tina any otner reason tor tne charges) " Schwartzkopf said. Prokop also charged his fellow regents of "inaction and indecision except in crisis. Schwartzkopf said the regents did act on the mattet at i May .'.20, 1978 meeting, when they heard two hours of testimony from groups that used the testing services. - Nv1' '-v Decision testing ,l Those groups wanted the testing to be free, but the rertnts decided it would be better if Vice ChanceUdr Martin Massen Kale of the Institute of Agriculture and Na tural Resources recommended a fee, Schwartzkopf said. nt's i thfe of the past, Schwartzkopf said in reference to the $191 00 in free testing. The regents publicly took action . and set t fee, Schwartzkopf emphisized. "I can't understand why he runs to the ; Legislature when this Is dead business, Schwartzkopf added. He was at the meet 1 Ing, he heard the testimony, and now he v itsurrects it ts if it is a big Issue. crrwanzxopt iaia k is easy to grao headlines, but one must be sure of accura cy. He said he intends to bring the matter up at the Saturday regents' meeting to clear the air. Consulting accusations "Just not true is how Schwartzkopf described Prokop's accusation that banking professor L Wayne Dobson holds seven professional consulting and advisory board positions. Prokop's letter said Dobson's outside duties created conflicts of interest, and had not been approved by the regents. But Schwartzkopf said faculty members who did consulting had been investigated by the board before, and Dobson Was not found to have a conflict. Dobson would only say that he is not a paid consultant, but he would not comment on whether he thought the consulting created a conflict. "I just plan to sit back and see the ad ministration response, Dobson said. He said he has had no contact with UNL Presi dent Ronald Roskens on the matter. Vice Chancellor Massengale would, not comment on the matter. He said he under stood that Roskens and corporation secre tary William Swanson were handling the response. Handling charges Roskens was out of town Wednesday, and Swanson said he did not understand why Massengale said he (Swanson) was in volved in the response. Swanson said that the campus chancellors would have to respond about consulting jobs other than those approved by the board. Concerning Prokop's allegations about the Eppley Cancer Institute at the NU Medical Center, Schwartzkopf said he is tired of continuing harassment of Eppley officials. Prokop charged that Eppley director Philippe Shubik held 17 outside consul tantships, and that he spent 43 days away from the center on outside activities during threes months in 1977. In his letter, Prokop said this is one of the biggest cover-ups on information and detail tht one could find in the state. Cayanaugh io speak at UNL Rep. John Cavanaugh, C.-Neb., will discuss his Vdo service system bill today. 5 - ; -. - Cavanaugh will be speaking at 3:30 by the BroyhiU Fountain. In ce of bad weather, he will speak to ths Urucn's main lounge. ;r... " Cavanaugh was quoted in the tcy Ncbmkan Jan. 19 as saying his lesla tion would not include a compulsory draft but "would provide for an indi vidual to have the opportunity to elect between the military and civil service. Under the proposal all males and fe males will register before their 18th ' birthday. An individual would indicate ja six-month period between the ages of IS and 26 when he or she would be . available for selection by . the VS. government.- -;-. ' Those chosen for duty- during the ' designated six-month period wi3 be infected for two years of service. If their sis-month periods lapses without notification, there is no obligation for that individual. Cavanaugh presented his bill to the Hcuse of Representatives April 10. Cavanaugh wJ answer questions at the end of his speech. , , versity of Nebraska Foundation operates the university without adequate account ability by either .the regents or the legis lature. Burrows prepared an amendment asking for closer control of legal fees stemming from one of Prokop's charges of excessive legal fees paid for services to Eppley those fees, according to Prokop, totaled more than $46,000 in the past nine years. Firmer position ""' Burrows also said he is considering either an amendment or resolution that would pressure the regents to take a firmer position on the internal management of the university. "Hopefully, a discussion on the floor would bring out some logical solutions and the regents can handle their own prob lems,' Burrows said. Sieck suggested that a possible solution to Prokop's charges could be intervention by the Chancellor or another audit; Prokop charged that a previous audit was in complete. "I'm anxious to hear Koefoots side of the issue," said Burrows. "Perhaps he can present some arguments that may reduce the intensity of the problem." . Koefoot said, "I haven't been told what went on Tuesday but I plan on stating the facts as I see them. "I don't agree With any of his (Prokop) accusations and feel that he isn't support ive of the university through these accusat ions." Unfounded accusations Koefoot added that he thought "accu sations were completely Unfounded in every respect ." "The records at the university are en tirely open and any interested state senator can and should review them," he said. After the meeting Tuesday, Prokop said he has corresponded to legislators for years, but this time "they got worried about some of the material' Prokop cited a need for more account ability in some areas, including the NU Foundation Corporation that raises funds. He questioned why foundation employees pay scales can't be made public since people should know where their money is going. ' : ... According to Prokop, he has attempted to gain this information from the NU systems office but hasnt yet received a reply. ,, There's not an awful lot they (the senators) can do other than ask questions about the university's practices," Prokop said. o Va Luck wasn't a lady: Fourteen per sons arrested in basest Nebraska gambling bust in history . .pzzz 9 If at Hist you don't succeed: Esd finger tries again as a duo With new album. xzzs 10 BasebsH, South Dakota den t rs.lz: At least for Augustan Col!:-;, who lost a doublehead tr to UN L at Deltzer Field , . ; 1 2