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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 1989)
Roskens ’ exit unexplained roskens from Page 1 are in the best interests of the uni versity. “We have ended the specula tion and disagreement on this mattershe said. Hoch refused to give reasons for Roskens' dismissal, sayine it is not unusual to withhold such in formation. Regent Don Blank of McCook said the agreement between Roskens and the regents doesn't allow regents to reveal why he was relieved of duty. “One of the agreements in the mutual consent was that there would be no discussion," Blank said. Blank said Roskens asked for that clause in the agreement. He said it was a normal clause under the circumstances and carries le gal ramifications. Blank said it is now time for the University to look ahead. “1 think the fact that seven of eight regents voted for the agree ment is indicative that we think the university should move on," Blank said. Hoch said that a national search for a new president would begin "very soon" but would not put a time frame on the search. She said that although Massen gale has been appointed interim president, he would not have an inside track to the presidency. Blank said the regents’ govern ment subcommittee will appoint a search committee to sift through candidates and make recommen dations to the board. He said it would probably take between 12 and 18 months to find a new presi dent "This is probably the most important decision members of the Board of Regents have to make," Blank said. _ Wesley supports board s decision SENATORS from Page 1 of Regents Chairman Nancy Hoch, Withem asked the regents to explain their actions. “Asa senator who voted to appro priate tax dollars for the support of the university, I feel that the Legisla ture and the public is owed a better explanation. “I am concerned that an elected body would choose to redirect ap proximately $250,000 (Roskens* sal ary for two years) without providing an explanation of the public policy reason for the termination of Dr. Roskens,” he wrote. In the letter, Withem said that if Roskens failed in any of the impor tant duties as a university president, the regents were fully justified in their action. Withem said he had a “mixed review” of Roskens’ performance. “I think he did a fine job in some areas, a fantastic job in other areas,” he said. Withem said Roskens faltered in other areas. Withem complimented Roskens for his efforts to raise faculty salaries. Withem said he has been a long time supporter of changing the way regents are selected. He said that regents should be appointed rather than elected, as they are now. Withem said the public probably did not even know which regent rep resented them before the Roskens’ ordeal. Because they are not visible to the public, regents should be appointed by the governor, Withem said. This way, the highly visible gov ernor would be held accountable for board directives, giving her supervi sion over regents. State Senator Don Wc'sely of Lin coln said he supported the board’s decision. “I think the board is charged with the responsibility to hire and fire the president and they chose to fire,” he said. Wesely said that while he usually supports the public’s right to know reasons for such decisions, in this case there may have been good rea sons not to discuss the actions of the board. ”1 suppose it was the best thing for all concerned in this personnel mat ter,” he said. “It is probably best for President Kosicens too. Robert Koefoot, a former regent from Grand Island, said he did not think Roskens should have been dis missed and that the board is not serv ing the public by keeping their ma sons for firms him secret. Koefoot also said the decision to fire Roskens will hurt the reputation of the board. "It will hurt their rapport with legislators, and the university will suffer," he said. Koefoot also said that regents who claimed Roskens failed to support their position on integrating Kearney Slate College into the NU system were confused. "I think the Kearney State issue was mixed up," he said. "I think it was confused, and in reality it was the fault of the Board of Regents. No way do I think that Roskens was at fault. ’ ’ Koefoot said that while he was on the board, there was a "great deal of friction” between Roskens and some of the regents. He said there was friction between Roskens and Hoch on many issues. He said there was also friction between Roskens and Regents Don Blank of McCook and Don Fricke of Lincoln. Former Regent Ed Schwartzkopf said that while he was on the board, the relationship between Roskens and the regents was "very cordial." Schwartzkopf left the board in 1984. FALL PREVIEW ff&H\ OFF lWHIBI] * MOR» CAREER i R ELAT ED SEPARATES CONTEMPORY CRINKLE ^ POLYESTER SEPARATES IN CRISP FALL COLORS! 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