Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Safety issue OK’d during stormy regents meeting

The university Board of Regents approved a $500,000 CCSN security initiative Friday to upgrade equipment at all campuses, but not without controversy and not without Regent Mark Alden filing another complaint with the Nevada attorney general that the board had violated the open-meeting law.

The controversy arose because the security initiative was one of the many allegations that regents cited for removing Community College of Southern Nevada President Ron Remington and lobbyist John Cummings from their posts, citing insubordination. Cummings allegedly sought and won money for the bill from the 2003 Legislature without first notifying or seeking approval from the board.

Regents unanimously agreed that CCSN needed the money to improve safety, particularly on the Cheyenne campus.

But regents Alden, Steve Sisolak, Howard Rosenberg and Linda Howard protested discussing and taking action on the bill without being able to discuss Remington's and Cummings' involvement. But neither was properly posted for discussion as part of Friday's agenda, attorney Tom Ray repeatedly told regents.

"I don't want to hold the students and their safety hostage, but I for one am really disturbed for the way this is being done and the lack of concern for process that we should be adhering too," Rosenberg said during the meeting.

Alden and Sisolak also questioned whether even discussing the initiative violated District Judge Jackie Glass' injunction that regents do not revisit any Remington presidency issues without properly notifying Remington.

In addition to allegations that Cummings bypassed board policy in seeking the money, clerical trainee Topazia "Briget" Jones also alleged Cummings planned to use the money for nonsecurity issues, including a promotion for Jones. Cummings has denied the allegations.

Chancellor Jane Nichols ordered the investigation into Remington and Cummings after hearing Jones' allegations.

Interim President Paul Gianni assured the board that every penny would be spent on upgrading and installing security equipment and would not be spent for any reoccurring costs or to hire personnel.

Two motions to postpone the item failed 9-4, with most regents believing there was an urgent need to use the money for safety now.

"Where we got the money is water over the dam," Regent Jill Derby said. "The truth is we desperately need that money at CCSN. It's about students, it's about safety, it's about security."

Rosenberg, however, said taking the money was hypocritical.

"It disturbs me greatly that two men's professional lives were effectively ended over this issue," Rosenberg said during a break. "Therefore, in an effort to not appear totally hypocritical, I would agree with what I have heard Regent (Tom) Kirkpatrick suggest on a number of occasions that it's only reasonable to return this money to the general fund, and, indeed, consider returning all money not approved by this board."

Kirkpatrick had originally raised the issue of how the community college got this money from the 2003 Legislature without it having been a priority of the board in a memo to Nichols last fall.

But now that they had the money, Kirkpatrick wanted it put immediately to use.

"There's no doubt in the world that we don't need money for security," Kirkpatrick said.

Half of the $500,000 will go to the Cheyenne campus, where security cameras are so antiquated officials cannot capture images to document crimes caught on film, CCSN security Sandy Seda said.

"It's a sad commentary that the local 7-Eleven has a better (camera) system then we do," Seda said. "It needs to be replaced."

Blue phones will also be installed around the campus to enable students to immediately contact security if they are in danger.

In September, an armed individual had entered a classroom and threatened the faculty member and students inside, Seda said, and because there were no phones, students had to run across campus to the security office for help.

Regents Alden, Sisolak, Howard and Rosenberg abstained on the vote to approve the initiative, with all other regents voting in favor.

Similar controversy had arisen Thursday over other issues on the agenda related to Remington and Cummings, including a four-year program in dental hygiene at CCSN, for which regents postponed action, and an information item on an advertising contract Cummings allegedly granted without following university policy.

Chairman Stavros Anthony pulled several more items off the agenda, including a closed session to discuss pending litigation, to avoid any additional conflicts. Anthony cited a need for further information before regents could act on the items, which included possible handbook revisions on employees taking leave for government service, lobbying activities and presidential host accounts.

A special meeting to discuss those issues will be scheduled for sometime this month, Vice Chairwoman Marcia Bandera said. She did not know whether the meeting would include any closed sessions.

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