Regents to address Harter donor woes

Jennifer Knight

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2001 | 10:35 a.m.

UNLV President Carol Harter will meet in closed session with the Board of Regents Tuesday to discuss complaints from donors about her fund-raising abilities.

Although regents can move to vote to remove Harter as president, Harter said today she does not believe that will happen.

"If you're going to have the constant turmoil of restarting leadership, that can change the aspiration of a university," Harter said. "The continuity, stability and longevity of a president is key to building a university into a nationally recognized institution."

Jane Nichols, the university system's chancellor, is expected to present information from interviews with some of the donors who lodged the complaint, regents said.

Harter said she has not decided whether her attorney, Thomas Kummer, will attend Tuesday's meeting.

The controversy began after Anchor Gaming millionaire Stanley Fulton, a UNLV donor, wrote a letter to regents July 31 seeking Harter's removal. Fulton claimed that Harter had mistreated high-profile donors and was harming UNLV.

Two other donors, including estate attorney Jeffrey Burr, have since complained about her fund-raising, prompting a university system inquiry. Burr said he represents some of Nevada's wealthiest philanthropists and alleges that Harter has caused UNLV to lose millions in donations.

Those types of claims are illusory and hard to prove, Harter said. She pointed to her record of raising $140 million for the university during her six years as president.

"Even though some of my detractors say that I have lost several millions in future gifts, our wills and trust have grown during my presidency from $6 million to $119 million," Harter said Thursday. "That's a number that proves how many people have come to UNLV and made a long-term commitment."

Regent Linda Howard warned that the board should tread carefully on such issues if they want to maintain autonomy.

"We appreciate the funding we receive from private donors, but no one controls the university no matter how much money they give, and they shouldn't expect that."

Regent Dorothy Gallagher said she is keeping an open mind.

"I know there are regents who want to discuss things with her," Gallagher said. "I want to hear her side of it."

Regent Mark Alden said he will abstain from voting because of a conflict of interest.

Robert Maxson, the last permanent president seated before Harter, was ousted in 1994 after boosters became upset over the forced resignation of popular men's basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian in 1992.

"It is just a different kind of environment here and, because of that, I think it's one of the most difficult (university) presidencies in the United States," Harter said.