December 30-31, 1980
12-30-1980
Pages 105-108
BOARD OF REGENTS
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA SYSTEM
December 30, 1980
The Board of Regents met in special session on the above date in
the Board Room, Carlson Education building, University of Nevada,
Las Vegas.
Members present: Mr. Robert A. Cashell, Chairman
Mr. James L. Buchanan, II
Mrs. Lilly Fong
Mr. Chris Karamanos
Mr. John R. Mc Bride
Mr. John Tom Ross
Mrs. June F. Whitley
Members absent: Mrs. Molly F. Knudtsen
Dr. Louis E. Lombardi
Others present: President Leonard Goodall, UNLV
Secretary Bonnie M. Smotony
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Cashell at 4:00 P.M.
1. Report of Gifts and Grants
Mr. Cashell recommended acceptance of the following year-
end gifts received by UNR, DRI, NNCC and the System:
University of Nevada, Reno
$50,000 from Mr. George Basta, Reno (DONOR DESIRES NO
PUBLICITY), $20,000 to be added to the "George
and Harriet Basta Athletic Scholarship Endowment",
and $30,000 is to be used to establish the "George
and Harriet Basta Medical Sciences Equipment
Endowment".
$52,250 from the Estate of Nora Kawamura, to be used to
establish the "Nora Kawamura Student Aid Fund",
which will support students pursuing careers in
professional Nursing.
$ 500 cash gift and 25,000 shares of ASI common stock,
from Mr. Jim Joyce to the Pinching Memorial
Athletic Scholarship.
Desert Research Institute
$40,000 cash gift from Mr. and Mrs. Sulo Maki, Las Vegas,
to be used for purposes of the Desert Research
Institute.
Northern Nevada Community College
A Multigraph, Model 1870, from Ken and Patty Maynard
(original purchase price of $7,500).
System
$ 4,000 cash gift from Miss Helen Thompson, to be divided
equally between UNR and UNLV and to be used for
faculty travel.
Mrs. Fong moved approval. Motion seconded by Mr. Mc Bride,
carried without dissent.
In addition to the above gifts, Mr. Cashell noted that
President Goodall had submitted a report of gifts received
subsequent to the most recent meeting of the Board, totaling
$392,201.35, and recommended the Board's acceptance (list of
gifts filed with permanent minutes).
Mrs. Whitley moved approval. Motion seconded by Mr.
Buchanan, carried without dissent.
2. UNLV Application for Membership in Western Athletic
Conference
President Goodall recalled that in February, 1977 the Board
authorized UNLV to enter into negotiations with WAC concern-
ing possible conference membership. He added that negotia-
tions have continued under Presidents Baepler and Dixon
and his own Administration, and he wished to report to the
Board on where those negotiations now stand. Dr. Goodall
distributed a report containing the following statement:
While I believe UNLV has met the conditions for member-
ship set by WAC, recent discussions with the Presidents
of WAC Universities -- both individually and at their
meetings in San Diego -- have convinced me that contin-
ued negotiations at this time will only result in addi-
tional delay in UNLV's potential entry into the confer-
ence. Dr. Bucher, our acting Athletic Director, and
Professor Harp, our Faculty Athletic Representative,
both of whom also attended the San Diego meetings, agree
with me in this assessment.
The WAC Presidents have indicated a desire to take some
action in January, and that action will almost certainly
be some form of additional delay, either a tabling of
the application or a move to place the application in
what WAC calls "inactive status". Since I do not be-
lieve that further delay is in the best interests of
UNLV, I am recommending that the Board authorize UNLV
to consider other alternatives, including affiliation
with other conferences or a decision to remain as an
independent.
I have discussed this matter with the Intercollegiate
Athletic Council, and the Council agrees on the de-
sirability of looking into other alternatives.
I am not recommending a withdrawal of UNLV's application
to WAC; rather, I am, however, asking the University's
Legal Counsel to consider all of the legal implications
of our WAC negotiations. In particular, the University
has a number of future scheduling contracts with WAC
schools in both football and basketball, and we don't
want to jeopardize any of these agreements.
I have discussed this matter with several of the candi-
dates for Athletic Director, and they have indicated
the action will not diminish their interest in the pos-
ition. This will give the new Director an opportunity
to start anew in considering all possible alternatives
for the program.
UNLV has some good supporters among the WAC Presidents,
and I am most appreciative of their support. Six of the
eight Universities have changed Presidents since discus-
sions with UNLV began; however, and this has apparently
caused some of the Universities to change their position
on UNLV's entry into the conference, making it difficult
to conclude membership discussions. There has also been
a change in the Office of Commissioner. Commissioner
Stan Bates and Commissioner Joe Kearney have both been
most cooperative in working with UNLV, and I express
appreciation to them.
I believe there are some very good options open for
UNLV. I look forward to working with the new Athletic
Director and the Intercollegiate Athletic Council in
exploring all possible options, and I am very optimistic
about the future of Intercollegiate Athletics at UNLV.
Mr. Mc Bride moved approval of President Goodall's recom-
mendation. Motion seconded by Mrs. Fong.
Mr. Buchanan objected to any action other than to pursue
UNLV's application now before WAC, suggesting that it would
be premature and not in the best interests of the Institu-
tions. Mr. Buchanan proposed that no action be taken with
respect to the application until WAC makes a decision and
explains the reasons for its decision. In the event the
decision by WAC is negative, Mr. Buchanan suggested the
Board might wish to consider legal action, pointing out
that, based on representations made by WAC, the Las Vegas
Convention Authority spent $5 million to expand the seating
of the Las Vegas Stadium.
Mr. Cashell suggested that it would not be in the best
interests of the University to bring legal action to gain
admission to a conference.
Mr. Buchanan recalled that WAC had placed three requirements
on UNLV for membership and since those requirements have
been met, there is no reason for UNLV not to be a member.
Mr. Mc Bride questioned the desirability of UNLV attempting
to force its way into a conference through litigation.
Mr. Buchanan recalled that the three requirements for WAC
membership were: (1) a stadium capable of holding 30,000
people, (2) a basketball pavilion with a 15,000 seating
capacity, and (3) compliance with all NCAA and WAC rules.
Mr. Buchanan stated that in his opinion, having met those
requirements, UNLV is admitted to WAC.
Mr. Ross suggested, and Mr. McBride concurred, that the mo-
tion include the suggestion by President Goodall that any
explorations of alternatives would commence after consulta-
tion with legal counsel.
Mr. Buchanan objected to any action that would put the Board
on record as looking at other options until after a defini-
tive decision by WAC.
Mr. Mc Bride and Mrs. Fong agreed to a tabling of their mo-
tion until the meeting of January 23 on the assumption that
the decision of the WAC Commissioners will be known prior
to that time.
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 P.M.
Bonnie M. Smotony
Secretary of the Board
12-30-1980