‘Lone ranger’ Rogers sorry if his memos hurt

Monday, Oct. 18, 2004 | 9:45 a.m.

RENO -- Interim Chancellor Jim Rogers says he's sorry if he offended any member of the Board of Regents with his strong-worded memos, but he's a "little bit of a lone ranger" and he's not going to change.

Rogers, who intends to leave the job next June when a permanent replacement is found, said his independence gives him credibility the private sector in seeking donations for the system.

The comments came Friday during an open discussion by the university Board of Regents of Rogers' performance, during which there were a few complaints.

Regent Howard Rosenberg of Reno said he didn't like Rogers' memos showing up in the press. "Reaction to some of the memos has been strong," he said.

He told Rogers that if he wanted to criticize Rosenberg, Rogers should call him on the telephone and "not play it out in the public."

"'I would rather you tell me rather than seeing it in the newspaper," said Rosenberg, a UNR professor.

Rosenberg also told Rogers that he was the chancellor and not the development officer, who must seek funds.

"The chancellor carries a great deal of responsibility, not just raising money," he said. The most important consideration for the chancellor should be the system's students, Rosenberg said.

The chancellor said he spends most of his time raising private money.

Regent Jill Derby of Gardnerville said she was concerned about Rogers contributing $120,000 of his own money to supplement the expenses for lobbying at the 2005 Legislature. She wondered if the man he hired, Gene Porter, a former district judge and former assemblyman, would be Rogers' personal lobbyist.

Rogers replied that he had no "separate agenda." The university system agreed to hire former Assemblyman Josh Griffin of Henderson and Tim Crowley of Reno to lobby. Rogers is chipping in another $120,000 for Porter to join the team. His pay will go through the university system.

Regents traditionally close personnel sessions to talk about the performance of an administrator. But Rogers insisted this session be open to the public.

Absent from this session were Regents Linda Howard, Mark Alden and Tom Kirkpatrick, all of Las Vegas, and Marcia Bandera of Elko.

Regent Steve Sisolak of Las Vegas praised Rogers for being "result-orientated." When Rogers took over, Sisolak said, the system was"mired in litigation" but most of those have been settled. "We've come a long way," Sisolak said.

The Nevada Supreme Court Friday dismissed the appeal and the cross-appeal of the regents and the attorney general over allegations of violations of the open meeting law. The two sides had reached a settlement in the case.

Sisolak said, "I'm happy we're out of a mud bog and on a level road."

Regent Doug Hill of Sparks suggested Rogers have more power in disciplining or even dismissing the presidents. Rogers suggested there be an executive board of the regents that he can deal with on a day-to-day basis rather than once every several months when the board meets.

Rogers also told the regents that he does not have a problem with the board being elected as opposed to appointed, and he said he's fine with having 13 regents.

Regent Bret Whipple of Las Vegas said communication was important between the chancellor and the board. Rogers said he "may have fallen down on communications" and added, "I apologize if I offended anybody."

"I am not arbitrary. I am not insensitive," he told the board.

Rogers said one of his most pressing concerns is getting Nevada State College in Henderson off the ground.

"Nevada State College is central to the success of the system" because students not qualified to attend UNLV or UNR can go to the state college, he said.