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Show .),-u.rr,Mr, Is Harold Arceneaux if' staying? Kf i v r" See Sports page 7 l-,.,,.,,,,.. I I e5 D gj E7D p S U Tuesday, June 15, 1999 www.weber.edusignpost Volume 62 Number 1 Committee rules online election results public Lack of evidence hurts WSU's legal counsel By Leo Dirr campus affairs editor-The Signpost By Annie Welling editor in chief-77ie Signpost Weber State University's legal counsel has not yet decided whether to comply with or appeal an order issued by the Utah State Records Committee. After the legal team failed last week to prove to the Committee that t he release of vote tallies from this year's voided online election could reasonably interfere with the university's ongoing investigation, the Committee reclassified the records as "public." The university now has 30 days to either comply with the Committee's June 9 Decision and Order or appeal to District Court. Failure to meet this mandate would constitute violation of the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). VVSU President Paul Thompson said he and legal counsel G. Richard Hill will make the final decision, along w ith outside legal advice. "We haven't had a chance to formulate a plan as to what we're going to do." Thompson said. However. Thompson said the decision would be made within the week. "These are legal matters and we need to get legal advice." he said. While Hill agreed, he also said the university was concerned with the "premature release of the numbers." "In this situation, those tallies are, in fact, evidence. It's possible to draw false inferences from the numbers alone," Hill said. The university intended on releasing the tallies after the investigation was completed. Hill said. "This isn't about withholding it forever," he said. "It's simply a matter of timing." The order issued at the State Capitol marks at least the third time this decade The Signpost has challenged the university in significantfree-dom-of-information issues and won. In spring 1993, the Student Fee Recommendation Committee attemped to close its final meeting to the public. However, The Signpost objected, and after help from the Society of Professional Journalists, Attorney General Jan Graham and the Utah Legislature, all committee meetings were opened. In November 1995, The Signpost again requested access to records the university considered "protected." After challenging university officials, reporters gained access to campus police records. At this most recent hearing, the Committee asked university legal counsel G. Richard Hill to explain how releasing the vote tallies would undermine the univeristy's investigation, as WSU had repeatedly claimed in denials ot'The Signpost's requests. Hill told the Committee many times during the hearing he was limited in what he could say about the investigation. Committee members, unwilling to accept the university's position on faith alone, persisted in demanding justification for the records to remain "protected." Near the end of the hearing. Hill announced he was under a strict court order, forbidding him to disclose details of the case. Committee members expressed disapproval that Hill had failed to notify them in advance and failed to provide them with a copy of the court order. Hill also did not take copies of the documents in question to the hearing, although a letter was sent to the university saying it was helpful for the Committee to review the records. Hill said the court order left him without "wiggle room" and asked Committee members See Election page 3 Beware of falling bricks J 4 Ail iv mm 0 '"' v.v-'-;:-.. ihi "llnimf'' nmi-- : i A construction worker is working on repairs on the bell tower. Three weeks ago, the university decided it needed to fix some loose bricks on the tower, according to Jerry Jones. Workers have removed all of the loose bricks and are now replacing them. Jones said yellow tape was put around the tower as an added safety precaution and that students will have to continue walking around the tape until the end of summer. Staff unhappy with salary By Amy Carpenter guest writer-The Signpost Although they're considered the backbone of each department, classified staff are becoming more and more frustrated with their low salaries. Donna Rigby, secretary to the registrar, left her job after five and a half years of employment with Weber State University due to her low salary. "1 think that classified staff morale is extremely low at this point, and administration has done nothing to make us feel appreciated or valued," Rigby said. According to a letter written to the WSU President's Council by the Classified Staff Advisory Committee, the base salary for new staff employees has only been raised $5,000 in the past 10 years, leaving long-time staff members making the same salary as new hires. The average full-time staff salary is $19,765. the letter stated. "1 certainly agree that salaries are lower than we would like," said Stan Greenhalgh, director of human resources. "We try to provide the kind of information to the Legislature to help them understand that we are behind market." Greenhalgh said the only two sources of income for salaries are the Legislature and enrollment. "It's a dilemma that management pays special attention to and we do whatever we can," he said. Greenhalgh said all the universities in Utah have the same problem. "Enrollment is on the rise, we hope," Greenhalgh said. "That's the best solution to get salaries up." According to a memo distributed by President Paul Thompson dated April 7, staff will receive approximately $5 to $7 a paycheck this year, based on a0.82 percent increase from the Legislature. Provost David Eisler said, "This year we had the additional challenge of a 3 1 percent increase in our medical benefits. Of the 2.5 percent salary increase given us by the Legislature, all but .82 percent went toward meet ing the additional health care costs." Lisa Burr, a secretary in the College of Applied Science & Technology, said her paychecks are deposited directly into her bank account, the same account used to pay her mortgage payment. Burr had to add $50 from her second job just to cover the payment. "It's frustrating that I have to work two jobs to make ends meet," Burr said. "I've also discovered there are many other staff members on campus in the same situation." The letter to the President's Council from the CSAC reads: "Classified staff are reluctant to create a crisis, but they are also tired of being ignored. The present situation is forcing us to embark on a course of action that is not of our choosing. We will not stand by another year without the issue of compensation for years of service and adjustments to salaries. . . ." The staff is waiting on a response from Thompson to see if anything is done about the situation before they take serious action. Professor awarded medal for bravery By Deanne VV. Chaston asst. news editor-The Signpost After purchasing an ounce of heroin, an assistant professor in the criminal justice department was recently awarded a Purple Heart medal for his bravery. But not just everyone is awarded for buying drugs. Wad man was a federal narcotics agent in Yuma, Arizona in 1 973 when he purchased the heroin and made an arrest of three dealers after identifying himself. The incident lead to a .357 bullet in his side and a permanent injury to his left thumb and eventually a Purple Heart award. "I am. honored by the thought of this award." Wadman said. "But it seems a little silly after more than 20 years." Although the incident occurred some 26 years ago, the drug enforcement administration still honored Wadman after initiating this type of award and giving them out retroactively.Although awarded late, the drug enforcement agency said it is never too late to award an act that continues to have an effect on the world. "Your courage continues the long and proud tradition of Federal Narcotic Agents who have stood in harm's way to make the world a better, safer place," Thomas A. Constantine. administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency, told Wadman. But Wadman. a native of San Diego who has been involved in police work since the 1960s, says much more enjoyment has come out of making the transition to teaching after years of police work. 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