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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1979)
n. (ojDUw mondayfapril23, 1979 vol. 102 no. 1 15 lincoln, nebraska H ansen 'furious' over Prokop charges By Rocky Strunk The NU Board of Regents meeting Saturday exploded into heated confrontat ion over Regent Robert Prokop's allegat ions of a cover-up of information and out side consultantships. Regent Kermit Hansen of Omaha made the hottest outburst against Prokop after Prokop's questioning of UNL banking pro fessor Wayne Dobson, who appeared before the board to answer to charges of engaging in outside consultantships and lobbying without regent approval. "I'm furious, began Hansen as he read off a handwritten statement he had prepar ed during the meeting. "I refuse to be identified in -any way with your innuen does, your implications, your harassments. I'm embarrassed to sit on the same board with you (Prokop). "The only positive result of your letters, your appearance before a group of senat ors, and your McCarthy-like approach to Professor Dobson is that you have given the public ample and resounding proof of the wisdom of this board's majority decision twice not to make you chairman of this board." Never elected chairman Prokop, who was elected in 197 1, is the only regent who has never been elected chairman. The board of regents elects a new chairman yearly. United Press International quoted well informed sources as saying several regents had discussed impeaching or censuring Pro kop for his activities. Regent Chairman Robert Koefoot of Grand Island confirmed that a discussion of possible censure had taken place but said that he felt that censureship in a body like the regents isn't workable. , Dobson, who is a professor in finance and economics at UNL, requested permis sion to address the board and denied allegations that he works as a paid lobbyist for the Nebraska Bankers Association and as a paid consultant for a Kentucky bank ing group. Prokop questioned him in these areas and also alleged that he had used the NU computer to benefit bankers. Charges denied Dobson denied these charges and explained that a simple telephone call would have cleared up the facts for Prokop. "This consulting issue would have never been discussed in a major respectable, uni versity ," Dobson told the board. He added the charges have caused "great damage to the university'' and that "it has questioned academic credibility and ' intellectual honesty. Prokop later suggested that all policies on consultantships be dropped since the present policy isn't being enforced.. He added that outside consultantships should be encouraged if it doesn't hurt teaching or there isn't a conflict of interest. Prokop, who proposed a meeting next week between Dobson, NU President Ronald Roskens, UNL Chancellor Roy Young and himself, said after the regents meeting that Dobson's presentation was one-sided. "It was not on the agenda and I was not prepared to question him (Dobson)," Prokop said. He added that he had no idea Dobson would be present at the regents meeting and that he was caught off guard by his fellow regents' reaction to his legis lative meeting with six state senators. Cover-ups charged Prokop met last Tuesday with six state senators to whom he had sent a seven-page letter charging of a cover-up by regents and university officials. The letter alleged a cover-up of information concerning abuse of the free veterinary clinic at the agricult ural institute based in Lincoln, legal fees paid for the Eppley Institute in Omaha, faculty consultantships, and the Univer sity Foundation. Hansen's statement saying he denounced Prokop's "McCarthy-like" questioning of Dobson drew applause from the Regents Hall audience. "Oh, Come on, you guys," said Regent James Moylan .of Omaha, adding that the board "shouldn't be getting personal," "It's good that we have different inter ests represented and if Prokop's accusat ions are inaccurate, hell have to suffer the consequences," Moylan said. Concerns not shared Regent Ed Schwartzkopf of Lincoln had earlier questioned why Prokop hadn't brought his material to the regents. "I'm concerned that Regent Prokop doesnt share his concerns with the rest of us and it bothers me that he's telling other people that there is a cover-up of informat ion," said Schwartzkopf. Schwartzkopf then read minutes of a meeting in May 1978 in which the regents had unanimously endorsed a Prokop motion concerning veterinary diagnostic fees, one of the areas Prokop had alleged there was a cover-up. "I resent him indicating that we deliber ately ignore these problems or that we're covering up," Schwartzkopf said. If you're sincere (Prokop) about helping the univer sity, bring these problems to us and let us help you work on them." ASUN President Bud Cuca," who was attending his first meeting as a non-voting student regent, said he was surprised at how personal the regents were during the meeting. "There, are a lot of hard feelings over the accusations, but I didn't think it would break loose as much as it did," Cuca said. "Some of the regents were really flying today." A ,11- II. Daily Nebrasksn photo NU Regent Kermit Hansen of Omaha Foundation's response pleases senator By Randy Essex At least one state senator has changed his mind about introducing a resolution calling for investigation of NU Foundation activities and consulting positions held by . professors. Pleasant Dale Sen. Harold Sieck said Sunday he doubts "Very much" that he will co-sponsor the resolution. He said in formation provided by the NU Foundation made him "feel a lot better" about founda tion operations and answered many quest ions he had. Salaries for the foundation's board of directors were questioned at a Thursday meeting between NU Regent Chairman Robert Koefoot and NU President Ronald Roskens and six state senators, including Sieck, The possibility thafmoney from the foundation went to political campaigns through director's salaries had caused con cern among the senators. But - Sieck said he found out the directors are not paid foT their duties. Following the Thursday meeting, Sieck, Adams Sen. Bill Burrows, Milligan Sen. Richard Maresh and Falls City Sen. Nelson Merz said they would sponsor a resolution calling for study of the foundation and consultantships held by professors. Not concerned But Sieck said he is not as concerned about the consultantships since he has talked to officials. "It seems now; that many of the con .sjtajtipW rather than being a detriment " Sieck said. He added that before the foundation provided a report on its activities to Maresh, the senators were in the dark about the corporation, and wanted answers to their questions, Roskens will meet with the senators Tuesday to answer any questions that re main, Sieck said. But Burrows said he doubts any "small packet of information can clarify all of the questions" he has. Burrows had not seen the foundation report when he was con tacted Sunday. Burrows said he is "flexible" as to exactly, what the resolution will ask to be studied, and that he was disappointed that Sieck was "satisfied so easily " Some truth Burrows added that he thinks there is some truth to the allegations made by Regent Robert Prokop in a letter to seven senators. The Prokop letter spurred the meeting with Koefoot and Roskens, and the idea for a study resolution. Friday, Avoca Sen. Cal Carsten, who was one of the senators that received Prokop's letter, said he "disapproved" of the four senators deciding to introduce a resolution. "I didnt think our purpose in meeting with them-(Prokop on Tuesday and Koe foot and Roskens on Thursday) was to make a decision. I thought we just wanted to hear Jbbth sides of the story arid gather information," Carsten said. "I can't support the resolution now, and I won't co-sponsor it," he added. He said Koefoot and Roskens answered the questions raised by Prokop to his satis faction, and that he saw no need for further investigation. Opposite view But Burrows expressed the opposite view. He said that since the Legislature pro vides NU with more than $100 million each year, the senators should have an in depth understanding of university oper ations. He said he is disappointed that the NU Board of Regents has not taken Prokop's allegations seriously nor has recommended further study on its own. Burrows said he was alarmed by what he understood from Koefoot about faculty consultantships. He said he got the impres sion that Koefoot thought any outside con sul tantship is all right if it is approved Jby the board. "University research should be made or kept credible, and should be safeguarded against any possible conflict of interest " Burrows said. He said he has found documentation that UNL banking professor L. Wayne Dobson was a consultant for the Kentucky Banker's Association in the 60s. Burrows - Continued on page 6 ":... ' J ' - ' 1 t ' V pin nunirnst rhri tint npnnp. snpnhpr' FLO representative Ursa Rahmsa By Brenda Moskovits A representative of-the Palestinian Liberation Organi zation said Sunday night that the PLO rejects last month's EgyptianJsraeli peace treaty because it ignores the Pale- : stinians right to self determination. This is a treaty between three allies against the Pale- ? stinians, -'.Hasan Rahman, deputy permanent observe of , the PLO to the United Nations, told a crowd of about 200 - in the Nebraska Union's Centennial Room: : v . . He later explained the PLQ's views on Israel, Egypt and the United States' attitudes toward the Palestinian people. : . , Rahman's speech, Prospects of Peace in the Middle t ' East-Part II," was sponsored by the Organization of Arab Students, Students Concerned with International Affairs ' and the "Talks and Topics Committee of Union Program " ' Council, as a response to former, Israeli Prime .Minister . Yitzhak Rabh's speech earlier this semester. , Interested in peace'' " r Rahman said the U.S. government and news media have assumed that since the PLO opposes the treaty it also is against Middle East peace. r ' The PLO have opposed that peace treaty not because the PLO Is opposed to peace, he said. "On the contrary if there are any people in the Middle East who have a real interest in peace it is the Palestinians.' ? s .i : , " ' Continued oa pae ? orjQSi D(oJ am Hit v JL Up in Flames: The throwing of six live turkeys into a bonfire Thursday night has prompted a humane society investigation pe 3 Oriental enchantment: Howell Theatre's Ricm cn is a total theatre experience ....... .pece 8 The joke backfires: And more than one faction is incensed by aspects of the "Swimsuit Dsy" okwp i 455 1 0
