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Page 10- The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 6, 1984
Regents in spotlight
By GEORGEA KOVANIS
Two days a month, members of the
,University's Board of Regents gather
around a large oak conference table in
;the regents' room of the Fleming
Administration Building to sip coffee
and decide the future of the University.
The six men and two women who
,make up the panel come from all over
the state to participate in the meetings
held on the third Thursday and Friday
of every month but August. And once
the eight members of the board decide
whether or not to raise tuition or
p dissolve a department, they assume
their everyday jobs as attorneys, lob-
a byists, and executives. Their regental
duties are over for a month.
j THE PANEL represents the top rung
on the ladder of University
bureaucracy and is responsible for set-
ting tuition rates, faculty salaries, and
pruning departments and programs.
The board is also responsible for ap-
pointing administrators, faculty and
staff members, authorizing major con-
struction projects, and approving the
University'sbudget.
The regents, who are elected for six-
year terms, hold the job of running the
University-sort of. They can exercise
a final say so in any matter concerning
the University. However, because the
regents spend so little time on campus,
and for the most part are unable to keep
on top of every issue, they usually rely
on advice from the executive officers
and faculty and staff committees. The
board generally rubberstamps the
proposals they are, presented with
leaving little room-if any-for
debate.
However, sometimes the board does
become vocal-especially on con-
troversial issues.
LAST SPRING, for example, Univer-
sity President Harold Shapiro's
decision to issue a presidential police
statement shielding campus gays from
discrimination prompted much
discussion from the board--even
though regents were not required to
vote on the policy.
Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Arbor),
the board's lone republican, urged his
colleagues to 'reject such a policy,
saying that it was unnecessary and
possibly illegal.
OTHER REGENTS disagreed.
Regent Thomas Roach, (D-Saline),
said the statement was neither illegal
nor an endorsement of homosexuality
because the University can not assume
homosexuals are breaking the law.
In December of last year, the regents
clashed on another issue. A proposal
which would have provided an alter-
native source of financial aid for
students who are denied federal monies
because of a refusal to sign a statement
declaring their draft registration status
was killed 6-2 with only Regent James
Waters (D-Muskegon) and Regent
Gerald Dunn (D-Lansing) supporting
the motion.
In addition to sometimes hearing
their colleagues' opinions, the regents
set aside one hour during every
meeting, to listen to the opinions of
members of the University community.
Anyone is eligible to speak-for no
more than five minutes on any issue
of concern to the University com-
munity.
Last year, military research and the
proposed code of non-academic conduct
were the most popular topics during the
public comment sessions.
In the past, several students have
criticized the regents for allowing only
five minutes per speaker and limiting
the comment session to an hour in
length. However, even though the
session is an hour long, upwards of 100
students sometimes crowd into the
rooom to boo, hiss, and occasionally
listen.
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Thomas Roach, 55, is usually vocal at
meetings. The Saline resident pays
close attention to the most minute
details and, as a result, is especially
skilled in finding problem areas in
University documents.
Nellie Varner, who became a regent
in 1981, is the newest member of the
board. She is especially vocal on
women's and minority issues. She is a
partner in Strather & Varner Proper-
ties, a Detroit real estate brokerage
firm.'
Robert Nederlander, 51, has served
on the board for 16 years. The Detroit-
area lawyer will seek reelection in
November. His family owns several
theaters across the country.
James Waters, 44, is usually quiet
during meetings. The Muskegon
Democrat is a lawyer and his opinions
are respected throughout the Univer-
sity community.
Paul Brown, 49, is one of the board's
quietest members. He graduated from
the University's law school in 1961 and
now lives in Petosky. Brown usually
speaks up when the board has a
question concerning legal matters.
Gerald Dunn, 49, is one of the board's
most liberal members. Last year, he
favored establishing an alternative
funding source for students who
refused to sign forms stating that they
had complied with selective service
policies. Dunn, who lives in Lansing
and is a lobbyist for the state's public
schools will seek reelection this fall.
Sarah Power, 49, worked in the Car-
ter administration as deputy secretary
of state for human rights and minority
affairs. The Ann Arbor resident is
especially vocal on women's and
minority issues. Last year she turned
down an, offer by local Democrats to
run for a seat in the state senate.
Deane Baker, 59, is probably the most
outspoken member of the board. The
Ann Arbor resident is the board's lone
republican. Baker, who operates a local
construction and real estate brokerage
firm, last year opposed a policy
shielding campus gays from
discrimination. He pays close attention
to details.
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Administrators run the show
By GEORGEA KOVANIS
Even though it's the regents who
have final say on all University mat-
ters, it is the executive officers who
author the proposals the board either
passes or blasts. That makes those
seven officers the most influential men
on campus.
The executive officers are ad-
ditionaly responsible for guiding the
University through its day to day
operations, supervising everything
from minority services and counseling
programs to dishing out budget cuts
and recommending tuition increases.
THEY ARE:
University President Harold Shapiro,
a nationally-respected economist who
assumed the post as president in 1980.
Before becoming president, Shapiro
served as vice president for academic
affairs. Shapiro has concentrated on
making the University "smaller but
better," and under his administration,
three schools-art, education, and
natural resources-have received
major budget cuts. According to
Shapiro, years of the state's neglect of
higher education has forced the
University to slice its budget.
However, last year, while budgets were
being decreased, Shapiro's salary was
increased-1 percent. It was a raise
which prompted ill feelings among
faculty members-especially faculty
members in the schools which had been
severly cut. Shapiro now makes
$95,000 a year.
Billy Frye, vice president for
academic affairs and University
provost, is the architect of Shapiro's
five year plan to reallocate $20 million
of the University's general fund budget
into high priority areas.
RICHARD KENNEDY is vice
president for state relations and
secretary of the University. Kennedy
acts as the University's chief link bet-
ween campus and the state government
in Lansing, trying to secure more funds
for the University. The more the state
gives to the University, the lower the
tuition increases are-or so the theory
goes.
John Cosovich, vice president for
development and University relations,
is responsible for overseeing fund-
raising projects. He is currently
heading up the Campaign For
Michigan-a project to raise $160
million in donations and gifts. Most of
the funds are expected to come from
University alumni and large cor-
porations.
James Brinkerhoff, vice president
and chief financial officer is respon-
sible for overseeing the University's in-
vestments and business affairs-
everything from stocks and bonds to
construction projects.
ALFRED SUSSMAN, interim vice
president for research and graduate
studies, is in charge of the Rackham
graduate school as well as managing
research at the University.
Henry Johnson is vice president for
student services and oversees student
activities and services. He is respon-
sible for health service, the Union,
counseling programs and major con-
certs.
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University President
Harold Shapiro
Vice President for State Relations
Richard Kennedy
Vice President for Academic Affairs Vice President for Student Services
and University Provost Henry Johnson
Billy Frye
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