44 l 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. 4 I 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. - - - - -- - - - - - ---- - ----- ---- --- -- - - - -.-- - - I - I I '1 I Michigan Daily Sports 763-0376 SHORT OR LONG Hairstyles for Men and Women DASCOLA STYLISTS Liberty off State . 668-9329 Maple Village ... 761-2733 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. l 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 c9 With fine darkroom products from: i-1