Friday, Nov. 7, 2003 | 10:53 a.m.
The chairman of the state Board of Regents said Wednesday that an ongoing investigation could end with the resignation or removal of the Community College of Southern Nevada president.
"Absolutely, that is a possible outcome of this investigation," Stavros Anthony said Thursday on the TV program "Face to Face With Jon Ralston."
Appearing on the same show, Jane Nichols, chancellor of the University and Community College System, said she had faith in CCSN President Ron Remington.
Regents have a special meeting set for Nov. 17 to hear the findings from a private investigation into the college's hiring and lobbying practices.
The investigation centers on allegations made by Topazia "Briget" Jones that CCSN engaged in improper hiring practices and used her to try to get a bill passed during the 2003 Legislative session that would have given the college the ability to grant four-year degrees.
Jones, who is alleging she was hired, promised quick promotion and discriminated against, was the self-described "special assistant" to Assemblyman Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas.
Jones filed her complaint with CCSN after she was told she was fired. Nichols intervened, had her reinstated and began an investigation into her allegations.
Nichols said the bill Jones had talked about in her complaint appeared to be an attempt to circumvent the university system.
"It would appear on the surface that the college was working on a bill that I did not approve and the board did not approve," Nichols said Wednesday.
The investigation, however, has become much broader. It has included an audit of CCSN lobbyist John Cumming's expenses during the legislative session. Nichols said the investigator is also looking at the college's hiring of Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, and Assemblyman Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas.
Much of the investigation has centered around Cummings, who in past interviews has said he did nothing improper.
"I have been directed by the chancellor not to comment on this matter except to say what started out as a simple inquiry appears to have taken on Salem-esque proportions," Cummings said.
The findings of the investigation, which was conducted by outside investigator Jeff Cohen, will be presented during a closed-door portion of the Nov. 17 meeting because it involves personnel issues, Anthony said. However, the chairman said "we will do the best we can to release as much information as possible."
A number of people have been notified that their names may come up during the closed portion of the meeting, which Anthony said the board is required to do.
Anthony said he didn't know who those people were, but he expected the list includes Remington and Cummings.
When the regents return to the open portion of the meeting, they could decide to discipline employees, which could include termination, or order internal audits or reviews to check into some of the investigators'findings, he said.
"I don't see this as the end. I see this as the beginning," Anthony said. "I look at this special meeting as getting to the meat of the issue ... I foresee some specific audits or investigations to finalize this."
Anthony said that when he met with investigators three weeks ago he was told "there was no indication of any wrongdoing by the chancellor ... And I really don't see that changing."
The chairman said he could not say whether the investigation would implicate others.
Regent Linda Howard said the investigation seems to have taken a wrong turn because unreliable information and sources have been used as a basis for the investigation.
"This is a case where the process has been blatantly disregarded and the rules have been continuously violated from the top of the system all the way to the entry level," Howard said. "I'm not sure that this investigation will get to the bottom of the issues at hand."
Remington declined comment for this story.
Cummings said he believes the college community would view a removal of Remington as a travesty.
"This system would lose its premier academic leader," Cummings said. "It would not be something from which CCSN could easily recover."
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