1989_08 The Daily Collegian August 1989

              J--
California
State
University,
Fresno
C   The Daily   ,
OLLEGIAN
New water polo
coach profiled
-See page 6
Wednesday, August 30, 1989
Established 1922
Vol. 95 No. 3
 c—
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ASI alleges
adviser has
conflict of
interest
By Michael S. Green
Editor-in-Chief   ,
In a preview of the senate's first
possible controversy, ASI President
Karen Cogley said at Tuesday's
meeting that the new ASI adviser,
Robert Lundal. has a conflict of
Interest.
Lundal, assistant dean of student
affairs, also oversees the Greek
organizations on campus"...It Is not
possible for an ASI adviser to hold a"
position as an official adviser to
another specific campus group
without thai same group receiving
preferential access," Cogley wrote In a
statement circulated to the senate.
Another apparent conflict of
interest caused the previous adviser.
Steve Mortensen, to step down this
summer, according to Cogley. An
opinion issued by the Chancellor's
office stated that a conflict existed
between Mortensen's ASI duties and
his position as director of student
activities, prompting Dean of Student
Affairs William Corcoran to appoint
Lundal In his) place, Cogley said.
Morte_isen could not be reached for
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James Caughman (left) and Brian Merrick spent their first day of lab along with the rest of the geodetic
surveying class In front of the North gym with their directional theodolite surveying angles
But Jeff Anderson, administrative
vice president, questioned whether
any conflict existed.
"1 think it's unfair for-(Lundal] to
be pre-judged," Anderson said In an
Interview. "1 have every confidence In
his ability to perform the job without
conflict"
Cogley later said that her
objections tc the Lundal appointment
did not reflect on his ability to advise
the different groups.
"He's very qualified to handle any
of those positions," Cogley said, "but
not all of them together."
Lundal said after the meeting that
he respected Cogley"s concerns, but
failed to see any significant problem.
"Most of us who work In student
affairs play multiple roles. We've done
that for years." Lundal said. "If there
were a direct Issue, like a funding
request, obviously I'd step aside. But
the ASI adviser doesn't play a
partisan role."
The issue will be discussed by the
full senate at a later meeting.
The topic of election reform was*
also on Tuesday's agenda.
Ambiguous wording in the election
code led to problems with last
seniester's elections, according to
Solano.
"The election code? were used m
some Instances to shut out jxople,"
Solano said, who referred the matter
to the legal and legislative committee.
Cogley said she felt that tighter
controls were needed during last
March's election.
"The election code was so general It
could be left to the interpretation of
whoever was in charge of the election
committee." she said. "It needs to be
tightened up. The rules need to be
more consistent"
In a show of bipartisan support
Anderson, the ranking senate
member of the Reality party, also said
that the matter should be looked into.
"I would agree that our election
code needs to be looked at and perhaps
adjusted to make for a better election
process." he said.
CSUF official retires after budget audit
Spring investigation by chancellor's office uncovers $2.9 million in overpaymentsjo
university; repayment due by end of year will postpone certain planned expenditures
By Suzanne M. Colby
StaffWrtter
William Coughran, CSUFs chief
financial officer, retired June 30
amid a budgetary controversy that
resulted from the discovery of
approximately $2.9 million in
overpayments to the university.
Coughran, a 1954 graduate of CSUF.
had worked at the university for 30
years and served as chief financial
officer for eight years.
Jim Miller. CSUF director of public
information, said recent problems
with the budget probably initiated
Coughran's decision to retire.
.The Dally Collegian was unable to
reach Coughran for comment.
CSUF and three other CSU campuses
were the target of budget
Investigations at the end of the 1988-
89 fiscal year. Unusual budget
practices prompted the CSU
Chancellor's Office to launch audits of
the four universities.
A two-day review of the CSUF budget
In May led to the discovery of an
overpayment of approximately $2.9
million to the university. The overage
was a result of projecting some full-
time faculty salaries for part-time^
faculty.
Louis Messner, assistant vice-
chairman of budget planning for the
chancellor's office.--' said
investigations of the four CSU
campuses centered on InterpretaUon
of the state controller's guidelines for
projecting faculty salaries.
Messner said San Diego State
.University, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo,
CSU Sacramento and CSUF had
questionable budget preparation for
projection of the salaries.
"Some were unaware of the
problem," Messner said of the four
universities, and others neglected to
correct salary projections that
exceeded actual disbursement
But according to Messner, CSUF was
the only university that was, "taking
advantage of the system."
Review of CSUFs budget did not
reveal any personal profit, but
showed that salary-projections that
surpassed the actual salaries paid
were not corrected.
Messner said he did, not determine
how the funds were" used but said
overages such as those found In last
year's CSUF budget would, normally
go to "additional operating expenses."
Following the audit. CSUF agreed to
a $2.9 million repayment of state
funds, which was completed by June
30.
Iris Matlosz, CSUF director of budget
planning and administration, said
the university experienced some
difficulties because of the year-end
payment deadline. The fiscal crisis
caused some planned expenditures to
be postponed.
"Some purchases were delayed until
this fiscal year because of this," said
Matlosz.
Matlosz also said some programs did
not receive funding from ihe 1988-89
budget because of the repayment
Matlosz said CSUF. which typically
operates on a $160 million yearly
budget, was able to meet the deadline
to return the funds to the CSU system
because the $2.9 million overage had
not yet been spent
Messner .said a team of three
analysts from the chancellor's office
discovered the same excessive
projections had been prepared for
CSUFs 1989-90 fiscal budget
However, Matlosz said steps were
taken to correct projections in order
to avoid overpayments in this year's
budget
"Those practices are no longer
continued," she said.
Lynn Hemlnk, vice-president for
administration and external
relations, is currently serving as a
temporary replacement for Coughran,
but some of Coughran's duties have
been assumed by Matlosz.