LOOKING IN ON: HIGHER EDUCATION

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007 | 7:10 a.m.

Since Gov. Jim Gibbons asked university system Chancellor Jim Rogers last month to plan for 5 percent in cuts to higher education's budget, Rogers has done a lot of talking.

And some of his comments seem contradictory.

One example: Rogers, who rejected Gibbons' request, was quoted in the Nevada Appeal on Oct. 19 saying he would "not negotiate with the governor." But last Tuesday on the news program "Face to Face With Jon Ralston," Rogers said he was not refusing to work with Gibbons.

Rogers took a moment Thursday to clarify his message. He said he will work with Gibbons - just not on everything. Rogers will work with the governor on finding money for the state, whether through more taxes or through other means. But he won't cooperate with Gibbons on cuts.

OK. Thanks for clearing that one up.

Now, another apparent contradiction: Rogers has said repeatedly that Gibbons should tap state reserves or explore raising taxes instead of preparing for cuts. In a letter to Gibbons, Rogers told the governor, "I would suggest that this is the time for you as governor to reach out to the business, labor, political and civic leaders of our state to form a governor's blue ribbon task force to examine our current financial state and to make recommendations to you to assist in planning our future."

But Rogers has also insisted, "I'm not trying to tell the governor what to do."

Rogers explains that his actions are not contradictory because he's only making suggestions.

"I'm not calling him up and saying, 'Here are your latest orders,' " Rogers said.

"I'm not that naive. I know I can't tell him what to do."

Rogers has a clear message for Regent Bret Whipple, who the chancellor thinks is too cozy with Gibbons.

"I think that from time to time Bret forgets that he represents the system and not the governor," Rogers said.

Last month Whipple sent a letter to Gibbons saying he was disappointed by the tone and content of the letter Rogers had sent to the governor outlining the chancellor's refusal to plan budget cuts.

The regent and the chancellor have butted heads on taxes, with Rogers calling for a business tax to help fund state services and Whipple wishing Rogers would keep quiet on the issue, which Whipple sees as state government - not chancellor - business.

Whipple said the idea that he cares more for Gibbons than for higher education was absurd.

"The only relationship I have with (Gibbons) is through higher education," Whipple said.

"The reason I am a supporter of the governor is because he's a supporter of higher education. He listens to me, he values my opinion."

On Nov. 2 Whipple held a dessert fundraiser in his office for Gibbons' legal defense fund.

Whipple said although he gave no money, about 30 to 40 people attended the event. He declined to name attendees, saying he needed to get guests' permission before releasing their names to the media.

Google has been doing it for a while - targeting us with advertisements based on the subjects of our e-mails and the phrases we type into the search engine.

Now Facebook, a social networking site popular with college students, has unveiled a novel way of using the Internet to pitch products.

"Ads will be getting more relevant and more interesting to you," Leah Pearlman, product manager for Facebook Ads, wrote in a message last Tuesday to the Facebook community.

Really? How?

"Instead of random messages from advertisers," Pearlman explained, "we've launched Social Ads.

"Social Ads provide advertisements alongside related actions your friends have taken on (Facebook). These actions may be things like 'Leah is now a fan of The Offspring' (if I added The Offspring to my music) or 'Justin wrote a review for Sushi Hut' (if Justin wrote this review on the Sushi Hut page). These actions could then be paired with an ad that either The Offspring or Sushi Hut provides."

Some users have already expressed displeasure with the regime, but it's too soon to tell how deep discontent will be.