Howard criticizes Harter in regents controversy

Jennifer Knight

Friday, Nov. 22, 2002 | 9:40 a.m.

Regent Linda Howard lambasted UNLV President Carol Harter in a memo accusing Harter of leaking documents to the press, displaying disrespect toward Howard and carefully orchestrating a plan against her to gain power.

Wednesday's memo is one in a series in which Howard has reacted to the controversy over her review of personnel and student files at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

"There have been leaks of confidential communiques to the press and public speculations about my motives coming from your office," Howard wrote to Harter. "Your choices show disrespect for me as a person, as well as for my position as a Regent."

Howard rhetorically asked Harter, "Are these leaks and statements to the media being carefully orchestrated as political positioning to increase the autonomy of your position as a UCCSN (University and Community College System of Nevada) president?"

Harter has declined to comment to the Sun about Howard but responded to Howard's allegations by saying she was only doing what she was directed to do.

"I have the utmost respect for the regents' authority to oversee the UCCSN system, and I have maintained all along that an appropriate policy on this matter should be adopted," Harter said. "Any information I have provided on this issue has been presented to the chancellor's office in a confidential manner."

Harter wrote a confidential memo Nov. 8 answering Chancellor Jane Nichols' request to list all instances in which regents received private student or personnel information. The list, obtained by the Sun, said Howard was provided with more than 15,000 students' names, ethnicities, and grade-point averages.

Howard said her access to such records ensures that "institutions are being operated fairly and responsibly by their respective administrations."

Howard also received grade and class information on student Hubert Hensen in a separate inquiry. Howard blamed an "overzealous" employee for giving her too much information, but Howard also said she looked into Hensen's files because he wrote an opinion piece for UNLV's student newspaper advocating the end of affirmative action, which she called "inflammatory and potentially divisive."

"I encourage expression of ideas and ideas by our students, but I still believe a policy should be in place to end such racial offensiveness," Howard wrote.

Howard, who is the only black regent on the board, has accused the board of institutional racism.

In a letter written on Tuesday to Regent Steve Sisolak she accused him of starting a "witch hunt" against her.

"Since Regent Sisolak's confederate, Regent Mark Alden, essentially disgraced himself through his racial slur against me, (he) has tried to take a different tack and selfishly employ the human resources of the UCCSN system in a brazen attempt to fuel his negative crusade to discredit me."

Sisolak said the letter writing has gotten out of hand.

"I'm not attacking anybody's integrity, credibility or honesty. I'm simply addressing the policy of access to student records," Sisolak said. "I'm not going to get drawn into a fight with any of my colleagues."

Howard also scolded regents Chairman Doug Seastrand in an Oct. 28 letter for not taking action against Alden for uttering a "racial slur" about her on a local radio talk show.

"I am ready and willing to take the high road and move forward," Howard said in the Oct. 28 letter. "However, I will not bite my tongue or take a back seat in the face of prejudice and injustice.""