Vol. 79, No. 11
Eugene, Oregon 97403
Tuesday, July 26, 1977
Audit of library school
reveals irregularities
By TOM WOLFE
Of the Emerald
An independent audit of the University
School of Librarianship released Monday
revealed $1,001 in unaccounted funds and
irregular practices in the school’s collection
of student book rental fees.
The school had been collecting $10 from
every student enrolled in its cataloging
class, saying the money was intended for
buying and repairing instructional materials
controlled by the school.
“Collection of the funds was never
cleared through the institution,' said Ralph
Sunderland, University director of man
agement and budget.
“About $1,400 was expended for various
items related to the School of Librarianship,
but it’s difficult to draw the line between
what is and what is not an instructional ex
penditure.
In addition, collected funds were not de
posited promptly, according to Ray Hawk,
vice-president of administration and fi
nance, and the auditor commissioned by
the University was unable to identify the
fate of $1,001 of the collected money
Money still unaccounted for has been re
placed by funds from the librarianship
school's development fund for placement in
the general University account, Hawk said.
Richard Perry, an accountant in the state
system of higher education, was able to
trace most of the money through a series of
interviews and an analysis of the school's
accounting records.
“Much of the money was spent legiti
mately, says Sandy Hill, former adminis
trative assistant at the school, "but I think
some of the money was spent inapprop
riately, also. ’
Herman Totten, dean of the librarianship
school, defends his control of the funds
though admitting their collection was un
authorized and irregular. He says approxi
mately 60 sets of cataloging materials have
been purchased by the school over the last
several years through money collected
from students, though no textbooks were
purchased with the hundreds of dollars col
lected this year.
Other expenditures, such as $312 for
"cheese, coffee, tea and other refresh
ments," were made for a potluck dinner last
December, the dean says.
Two-hundred eighty-nine dollars was
used to subsidize an "alleged overdraft in
the School of Librarianship ... which re
sulted from overexpenditure of the budget
for the publication of the resource booklet
“Contact," the auditor says. Perry identified
an additional $350 going toward a door in
stallation.
University Pres. William Boyd says he
regrets the incident but that he “hopes the
University will not have to reimburse stu
dents" for the fees though they were impro
perly assessed.
The auditor also reported that some lib
rarians questioned the necessity of training
offered by the cataloging class: "Should the
University decide to seek approval for
charging, collecting, and depositing the ren
tal fee, the charge might be reduced to $1 or
$2.”
Perry further recommended the school
cease its practice of selling office supplies
and stamps and that the dean follow state
guidelines when employing temporary stu
dent help.
The auditor's formal report, completed in
February, has still not been released by the
University. "I am withholding the document,
believing that parts of it may be privileged,"
says Boyd. “I don't want to invade anyone's
privacy.”
Prior to joining the faculty in 1974, Totten
served as associate dean of the College of
Library Science at the University of Ken
tucky. He holds a master of library science
degree and a Ph D. from the University of
Oklahoma and a bachelor of arts degree
from Wiley College.
The librarianship school is currently
scheduled for phasing out by August of
1978 as part of an administrative plan to cut
$1 million from the University budget.
Hawk said the audit has no bearing on
the proposal to close the school.
"The audit was requested before the sub
ject of closing the school was ever discus
sed, he said. “It has no relation to any
decision regarding closure of the school.”
Photo by Erich Boeketheide
Ghostly silhouette
Somehow it only seems natural for a
bunch of people to be lying around
dead between the library and McArthur
Court. But the Pioneer Cemetery 's pre
sence on campus hasn't always been
assured. Only eight years ago the plot
seemed destined to become a perform
ing arts center and parking lot. Now it
seems alive and well. See the story on
Page 6.
Boyd: Semester calendar system change too risky
University Pres. William Boyd has de
cided not to pursue a faculty recommenda
tion for a University shift to a semester
system.
In a letter released to the faculty Monday,
Boyd said evidence gathered from com
munity colleges and high schools, along
with a survey of student opinion on this
campus, suggests the University would
lose enrollment by making a calendar
change now.
“Obviously, preoccupation with size
ought not shape the program of the Univer
sity,' Boyd wrote, “but our present financial
situation is so precarious that I believe we
ought not take unnecessary risks.”
Boyd expressed reluctance to be sepa
rated from the faculty in any matter, espe
cially an academic one. But he said, "If,
after weighing the risks, the faculty still
wishes to proceed with the shift to the
semester system, I shall make that recom
mendation to the (state) board.”
May 4 the faculty voted 65 to 63 in favor of
a change to the semester system at its last
general meeting before summer term.
But Boyd says the present situation may
change and “the University may soon be in
the more comfortable position of being able
to act in concert with others. " He added that
several community college presidents
would like to see the state system move to
an earlier starting date in the fall.
Saying he thinks the shift could be made
with far less risk if the University were acting
together with other institutions in the state
Boyd remarked, "My judgment is that we
should wait for such an opportunity before
making this major change."
In an earlier interview, Boyd indicated
personal preference for the semester sys
tem. “I think it is simply more civilized and
leisurely than the present quarter system —
it seems students are constantly register
ing. I have been a student, teacher and
administrator under both systems and I find
the semester approach to be superior on
each level."
Amazon
The Incidental Fee Committee gave
the Amazon Community Tenants (ACT)
$2,613 Thursday tor a coordinator and a
tenant advocate. ACT had proposed a
one-month budget of $2,376. Mean
while, Amazon tenants not actively in
volved in the rent strike voice their
reasons why. Both stories are on page 3.
Nude News
Two of Lane County's three commis
sioners, Jerry Rust and Archie Weins
tein, held a hearing Thursday to gain
public input on a proposal to exempt cer
tain areas within the county from an
anti-nudity ordinance passed in
November For the bare facts, see page
Berry nice
That's the way to describe a Wil
lamette Valley summer, when berries,
cherries, beans, apples, pears, peaches
and rhubarb need to be harvested. For
the quick-fingered, a profit can be made
in the process, but not wrfrwut some
long, hard work. See the story on page 7.