Research conflict policy rebuked
Staff Writer
Bv LINDA FINESTONE
Conservative attitudes at the University of Kansas threaten the approval of research projects that propose close relationships between the University and private business, a professor who resigned from such a project this summer said last week.
the professor, Robert Nunley, said he left his position in June as director of the Multidimensional Analysis Processing System (MAPS) laboratory, a computer research project, because work on the project involved an apparent conflict of interest.
The MAPS system, a computer graphics system that can process data as images on a color television monitor, was developed by Nunley, professor of geography, through a series of National Science Foundation (NSF) grants.
The project involved purchases of equipment from and cooperation with local businesses. Nunley also had a personal relationship to a commercial firm related to one stage of the program.
The University must approve all research project proposals before they can be sub-
mitted.
"RIGHT NOW a man would be an absolue to even think of submitting a proposal like mine that would blur the distinction of the University and business," Nukey said.
University policy states that a research project in which a faculty member has "a significant financial interest in, or consulting agreement with, a private business could constitute actual or apparent conflicts of interest."
William J. Argersinger Jr., vice chancellor for research and graduate studies, said recently that the policy had notanged since Nunley started his project in 1971.
NUNLEY SAID concern about cooperation between the University and business and apparent conflict of interest has been a point of contention of the nature of the MAPS method proposal.
Nunley's original proposal to the NSF called for private businesses to bid on helping to design and construct a computer graphics system that Nunley would develop. The company also teamed with a University staff person worked closely with the commercial firm that won the bid.
"From the very outset we were blurring
Wednesday, October 26, 1977
Bowersock...
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the boundary between the University and business," Nunley said. "And you start blurring that boundary, and you become vulnerable."
To avoid embarrassing the University at any point, Nunley said, he discussed any apparent conflicts of interest with University lawyers, Argersinger and Interpretations Systems, Inc., the firm that was awarded the bid.
"WE WERE CONSTANTY aware of it," he said. Our concessions were quite clear in the face.
When funding for the project ran out in 1975, Nunley continued the project. He at least attempted to be charged commercial users $2 an hour to use the equipment. The apparent conflict of interest was magnified because Child, a staff member of Nunley is president of, became one of the users.
residence requirement. It decided however, to offer the issue to the city staff to work out a solution. In this case, only players in the requirement. Now, only city limits are required to live within the city limits.
ALTHOUGH NUNLEY called his separation from the project a resignation, Argersinger said there actually could be no reason for him to remain so not formally organized by the University.
Argersinger said the University's role had been to contribute space, utilities and Numley's time to the federally-funded project.
"My concern in resigning from the MAPS lab was basically that I was tired of simply being in an environment in which the apparent conflict of interest that existed from my position with Child, Inc., was just an increasingly heavy burden around my neck." Nnulev said.
Nunley also left the project with a deficit of more than $4,000 in an income account established by the University after NSF funding for the project ran out.
NUNLEY RECEIVED grants totaling $250,600 between 1971 and 1973 to build and experiment with a computer system that could process data as visual images.
The residency requirement was a disputed issue between the city and police and firemen last summer when firemen and police were demanding salary hikes. The salary hike was dropped by the eminent lawyer who was charged with residency issue was delayed until a court case pending in the Denver Court of Appeals was resolved.
In 1973, the NSF granted Nunley $64,400 for two years on further program development and experimentation with the system.
The case was between Lawrence and a city empoye. The employee had violated the residency requirement. The city has won the case despite appeals by the empoye. The employee failed to appeal the Denver court decision favoring the city.
In 1974, Nunley submitted a proposal to allow the University from 1975 to 1977 but funds were not granted.
TONIGHT: STUDENT SENATE will meet at 6:30 in the Union's Big Eight Room. Albert Gkerken will present a CARLILON RECITAL at 7 in the Campanile. Two SLAVIC LIVES, "Loves of a Blonde," and "Why Do You Smile, Mona Lisa?" will begin at 7:30 in Bailey Auditorium. Sila Marsh will recital as part of the VISITING ARTIST Series at 8 p.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall.
TODAY: A MARINE CORPS Selection Office will interview those interested in the Marine Corps all day in Booth One of the Kansas Union. The Museum of Natural History ANIMAL STORY HOUR will be at 10 a.m. in Dychochlub, Dell Brinkman, dean of the museum. For more information, FACULTY FORUM,"The Public Right to Know Versus Personal Rights of Privacy," at noon in the United Ministries in Higher Education Center, 1204 Oread. Derral Kent Hurm will present a DISSERTATION, "Expenditure Controls: Factors That Can Equalize the Kansas School District Equalization Law," at 1 p.m. in 103 Bailey Hall.
TOMORROW; GERMAN CLUB will meet at 3:45 p.m. in 4076 Wescott Hall. THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT will sponsor a talk, "Listening and Reading," by Dominic Massaro, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Fraser Hall. SUA BRIDGE CLUB will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Union's Pine Room. An American Association of PETROLEUM GEOCLOISTS LECTURER, Gerald G. Loughs, vice president of Sunburst Exhibition Company, p.m. in the Apollo Room of Nichols Hall. Beverly Bradley, county commissioner, will speak about the Clinton Reservoir at a COLLEGE REPUBLICANS meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Union's Council Room. KU BUCKS, vice president of TALK LOONING ASSOCIATION will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Union's Forum Room.
A letter from the NSF listed various reasons for the denial to grant funds that included scientific merit of the proposal, and a statement of research in the same field and lack of funds.
5
KANSAN On Campus
By June, 1977, a deficit in the income account had built to $4,162.49. Argersinger ordered all activity on the account be stopped.
Nunley then proposed to the NSF A system by which he planned to generate funds to enable him to continue to operate the laboratory.
C. M. Burrows, associate comptroller, said although he did not have the account figures for the 1978 fiscal year, receipts collected between July 1, 1978 and June 30, 1978 were spent and their expenditures for salaries and supplies during that period totaled $ 0.01.50.1
"But the situation was that Bob spent money faster than it came in," Argersinger said. "Money was withdrawn but not replaced."
IN LETTERS TO the NSF and to Arsgerlingen, Nunley suggested establishing a system allowing him to charge computers with computing equipment. Fees collected would be accumulated in a University income account, maintained and upgrading the system.
In both letters, Nunley said he anticipated an initial income of from $5,000 to $10,000 a year, increasing to perhaps $15,000 within a few years.
Corrections
BURROWS SAID there had been no ac-
count in the account since Argersinger's
order in June.
Events
In August, 1975, the office of research accounting in the University compilator's office established the account to receive and manage the anticipated earnings on the project. Anticipating the income, Argentinean money went ahead and began to spend money.
Argersinger approved the proposal and said that this method of continuing activity on a research project was not an uncommon arrangement.
HE SAID CHARGING for the use of the
key was like renting time on the
equipment.
Eleen McGrath is head of the circulation department, not curricular librarian, at Wake Forest University.
Nunley said, "I can justify very readily every deficit in that account."
But he said he thought to do so would delay any decision on what action would be needed.
The computer system was taken out of use during the university's project in June, and has been maintained in Judea.
Nulley said if payment had not been stopped on the account, there would not now be a liability.
"There was anticipated income to cover all expenditures," Nunley said. "I had arrangements to make that balance by the time he was my understanding with the University."
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Rabbi Mark Levin (Reform) and Alan Edelman (Conservative) square off in debate/discussions on Israel and the Palestinians
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"AS FAR AS I'm concerned, Argeringer, by closing that account, undermined all of my efforts I had very carefully planned to take care of the deficit."
25th & 26th of Oct. 1977
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
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Union
After the system was made inoperable in June, Nunley asked that the MAPS system and any related equipment that had been added to the system be transferred from the department of geography and meteorology to the department of electrical engineering
Nunley said that he now considered the affair out of his hands, and that he did not know how the deficit in the account would be paid.
HENRY SNYDER, dean of the office of research administration, said the decision on whether to continue the project and what was proposed was made in the department of geography and meteorology.
Snyder said because Nunley headed the project, the equipment was Nunley's responsibility even after the NSF funding ran in out 1975. Now that Nunley has left the project, Snyder said, the department has the next claim on the equipment.
He recommended that Robert Harlan, professor of electrical engineering, who had worked with Nunley on the MAPS system, continue the project.
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