thurtdr, cp 19, 1979
vol. 102 no. 113, Lincoln, nttr&ka
Regent chairman to reply
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1 4,.4
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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
