Guinn laments consequences of regents’ recent infighting

Thursday, July 15, 1999 | 10:37 a.m.

The university system regents have withstood some of the stormiest sessions in memory during the past seven months, so when three of them listened to a tape of Gov. Kenny Guinn calling the board irresponsible, they took it in stride and accepted it as constructive criticism.

Though the three cited a number of board actions showing they were acting responsibly, all agreed Guinn made some good points when the governor expressed his views on the recent turmoil that played a role in Chancellor Richard Jarvis tendering his resignation effective Aug. 31.

Chairwoman Jill Derby and Regents Doug Seastrand and Steve Sisolak heard the governor's taped comments Wednesday on "POV Vegas," the Las Vegas Sun's television discussion show, which shows daily at 5, 6 and 8 p.m. on cable Channels 1 and 39.

Guinn's comments were taped last week, a few days after Jarvis, a close friend, announced he was quitting to become the first chancellor of the United States Open University, a Britain-based school that focuses on distance education.

Guinn called Jarvis one of the top chancellors he has worked with in the past 35 years.

"I think he took the university a giant step forward when he came here. He did an excellent job of working with the legislative body, both north and south, both Democrats and Republicans," Guinn said. "And I'm really disappointed that this infighting for the board of regents cost such a detrimental action for the state of Nevada."

One of Jarvis' downfalls was a charge of unequal funding between the system's northern and southern campuses. Sisolak and Regent Mark Alden, both representing Southern Nevada, charged that the state's southern campuses were shortchanged in the funding formula.

Guinn said of the funding issue, "I was going to work with him (Jarvis) to really set up a new system on how to fund higher education so that the Board of Regents would have more responsibility, have more decision-making power to move money around. But at this point ... though the majority of that board has shown that they're not responsible in that position."

Derby agreed with Guinn that Jarvis was good for higher education in Nevada.

"He took us forward in the nearly five years he was with us. We advanced considerably," Derby said.

Sisolak, one of Jarvis' harshest critics, said, "I appreciate what the governor had to say. I agree with some of what he had to say. I disagree with parts of it.

"I think that Chancellor Jarvis did to a lot to take us forward, but I think we faced a crossroad in the university and community college system and there was a lack of communication with some of the presidents. If Gov. Guinn thinks we were irresponsible, I'm sorry that's the way he feels, but I take our obligation very seriously and we need to move forward."