University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, December 4, 1990
5
Professor says judicial board violated grievance procedures
By Karen Park
Kansan staff writer
A KU professor has charged the University of Kansas Judicial Board with violating University Senate rules and regulations procedures, which the board follows to address grievances.
Hector Clark, associate professor of mechanical engineering, said that he had filed at least five grievances against faculty members in the past five years and that the judicial board had decided only one of the cases.
In a letter that the Board of Regents received last week, Clark requested several changes in judicial board procedures and policies.
Stanley Kopik, executive director of the Regents, said he would ask Chancellor Gene A. Budig to respond to charges against the judicial board.
He said he wanted to have both views of the situation before he presented the complaint to the Doctors.
Koplik said he had not had any other complaints about the judicial board.
In his letter to the Regents, Clark said it was his responsibility as a KU faculty member to point out the breakdown of the judicial board procedures for the hearing of grievance complaints.
Clark said that members of the board had not paid sufficient attention to his complaints and that they
were delaying considering his cases.
were delaying considering his cases.
Clark requested that the Regents take several steps to improve the board:
- Suspend all judicial board proceedings until Clark's complaints are addressed.
- Replace Jan Sheldon, the chairperson of the board.
- Establish an inquiry to investigate the adherence of the board to Senate procedures.
■ Eliminate from the board the positions of law members, positions designed to bring more legal expertise to the board. Law members must be professors of law licensed to practice in New York or free law members on the 54-member board.
Eliminate the judicial immunity provision for board members.
■ Recognize that lengthy delays, which have extended for weeks, months and, in some cases, years have imposed on Clark
Sheldon said that Clark's complaints had been addressed by the board.
- Initiation of hearings on actions waiting to be considered by the board so that they will be resolved in a quick and orderly manner.
"He doesn't like the way they've been addressed, but I believe his grievances are all being addressed," she said.
Sheldon said Clark could discuss
their projections, he had made
during the first half.
hearing that would take place in a few weeks.
Sheldon said she would not give a specific date because the information was confidential
Clark suggested that law member positions be eliminated so that all faculty members would have equal power on the judicial board.
Two law members serve on the three-member appeals board.
More law members serve on the appeals board because they are more qualified to make the decisions, and more experienced technicalities, Sheldon said.
Clark's complaint about judicial immunity arose after the approval of an Aug. 23 University Council resolution that protects board members from possible liability after they had ruled on a case.
Sheldon said the immunity resolution was necessary to persuade individuals to serve on the board.
Now, an individual can appeal a panel decision, but once the case is heard by the appeals board, the decision is final.
"People were so worried about having a suit filed against them they did not want to serve on the board," she said.
In other words, an individual cannot file a grievance against a board member because of the way the board member acted during a hearing.
Speaker of Kansas House elected
Kansan staff writer
Bv Carol Krekeler
TOPEKA — State Rep. Marvin
Barkis, D-Louisburg, was elected
unanimously by fellow Democrats
to the Kansas House of Representatives.
Barkis, who has been the minority leader of the House for the past seven years, is best known for his support of children's programs and his often vicious attacks upon Gov. Mike Hayden.
"Democracy is alive and well in Kansas," Barkis said in his acceptance speech. "I am proud to see the system does work."
Barkis will replace State Rep. James Braden, R-Clay Center, as speaker of the House when the 1991 legislative session meets in January.
Barkis partly attributed his election as speaker of the House to Gov-
"I think a lot of us are here because she won a good camp," he said. "I will look forward to working with her."
Working with the Republican representatives, who have 62 seats in the House, one less than the Democrats, is important because of the challenges the Legislature faces next session, he said.
"Sometimes I think we need House decisions rather than Democrat positions," Barkis said. "I'm going to challenge the Republicans to help us."
Barkus said that one of his main focuses as speaker of the House would be children's programs.
State Rep Sandy Praeger, R-Lawrence, said she wanted to cooperate with Barkis and the Democrats that state could overcome its problems.
State Rep. John Solbach, D-Lawrence, said that now was the time for Democrats and Republicans to work together.
Also elected yesterday were the House majority leader, State Rep. Donna Whitenem, D-Hutchinson, and State Rep. Robert Bollmer, D-State Rep. Bob Muller, R-Russell.
"I've known Marvin since high school, and I think he will do a fine job," she said.
"We need to partisanship as much as possible," he said. "Our problems are too serious and severe to let the process break us up."
GET THE FACTS
regarding the PROPOSED ENGINEERING FEE
Myth:"All other external and internal sources of funding, including internal reallocation, have been exhausted"*
FACT: Neither the University nor the Board of Regents have requested a direct line item appropriation for engineering equipment in their legislative budget request. Another alternative could be a university equipment fee that would address funding needs throughout the entire university.
Myth: The Engineering School will lose its accreditation if the engineering fee does not pass.
FACT: Although equipment is part of ABET accreditation criteria, the last ABET accreditation report for KU contains no reference to the need for an engineering fee.
*Taken from the proposal to the Board of Regents submitted by KU, KSU and WSU.
Three new ways to survive college.
The Macintosh Classic
The Macintosh Ilsi
With Apple's introduction of three new Macintosh* computers, meeting the challenges of college life just got a whole lot easier. Because now, everybody can afford a Macintosh.
The Macintosh Classic is our most affordable model, yet it comes with everything you need—including a hard disk drive. The Macintosh LC combines color capabilities with affordability.And the Macintosh Hst is perfect for students who need a computer with extra power and expandability.
No matter which Macintosh you choose, you'll have a computer that lightens your work load without*
giving you another tough subject to learn. Every Macintosh computer is easy to set up and even easier to master.And when you've learned one program, you're well on your way to learning them all.That's because thousands of available programs all work in the same, consistent manner. You can even share information with someone who uses a different type of computer-thanks to Apple's versatile SuperDrive," which reads from and writes to Macintosh, MS-DOS, OS/2, and Apple" II floppy disks.
See the new Macintosh computers for yourself, and find out how surviving college just got a whole lot easier.
See your campus computer store for details.
The power to be your best at KU.
© 1992 Apple Computer, Inc. Apple, the apple logo, and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. SuperDrive and "The power to your brain" are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Classic is a registered trademark licensed to Apple Computer.
MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.