Regents’ chairman defends UNLV’s Harter

Jennifer Knight

Monday, Nov. 25, 2002 | 11:20 a.m.

Board of Regents Chairman Doug Seastrand is defending UNLV President Carol Harter, countering criticism by Regent Linda Howard.

Howard accused Harter of leaking confidential documents to the media that detail Howard's receipt of more than 15,000 student names with grade information from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She also said that Harter had treated her disrespectfully.

Howard delivered her criticisms of Harter in a scathing memo last Tuesday -- accusations that Seastrand said could not be substantiated.

Seastrand's Thursday memo to Howard stated that Harter was just doing her job when she answered a chancellor's request to document all regents' access to student records and personnel files.

"...We can find no evidence that Dr. Harter goes beyond those instructions or has made judgmental statements about your actions," Seastrand said.

"All presidents are in a difficult position when a request is made that requires them to produce information about regents' actions," Seastrand wrote. "Dr. Harter had to comply with the request as she received it."

Seastrand's comments followed a series of memos in which Howard lashed out at three of her colleagues on the board. Howard alleged they were on a campaign to discredit her.

The first memo, dated Oct. 28, asked Seastrand to take actions against board members who were trying to "villify" Howard. The second memo, dated Nov. 18, was directed at Regent Steve Sisolak, whom Howard alleged was on a "negative crusade to discredit" her.

Since Howard has not granted interviews to the media recently, her memos help detail explanations for her viewing of student and personnel records.

In Tueday's memo to Harter, Howard said her request to see 1,034 pages of student information was a way to keep the university honest.

"Historically, members of the Board of Regents have had access to the aforementioned documentation to substantiate that the member institutions are being operated fairly and responsibly by their respective administrations," Howard said in a memo on Tuesday.

Before revelations about the student lists, Howard stoked controversy after if was learned that she had received information on UNLV students Hubert Hensen and Al Heck after they criticized or disagreed.

"My inquiry about Hubert Hensen was prompted by his comments about admissions standards and minority enrollment made in the Rebel Yell," Howard said, admitting that her purpose for accessing information was not educational as required by law.

Howard explained that when she looked into the personnel files of County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, a part-time employee at UNLV, Howard was acting on a constituent's request.

The board will be looking at Howard's and other regents' access into college records in December. The board is expected vote to form new more policies restricting access, officials have said. Harter had to comply with the request as she received it.