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Show Volume 38 IS umber 55 Weber State College - Ogden, Utah Mav 19.1978 J t f - Something has to light up this page McCarthy fires assistants Burbidge denies receiving memo by Beverly Taggart Last Tuesday, in the May 16th edition of the Signpost, an article appeared concerning the Assistant Attorney General, Brinton Brubidge's refusal to release names and salaries on Weber's payroll. His reasons for not complying with Utah law, as stated by the Signpost were the information was "private," the material could not be extracted from the computer, and he felt the -request was unreasonable. In an interview last Wednesday, Burbidge said the Signpost had failed to submit a written request for the information. According to the Signpost,, request was submitted last March to the WSC Director of Personnel, Stan Greenhalgh. Greenhalgh confirms the Signpost's statement saying, "When I got the request I notified the newspaper telling them to direct all questions to Brinton Brubidge." Greenhalgh said he then sent a memo to Burbidge, WSC legal council on April 3. "I did not receive any information from Greenhalgh concerning salaries," said Burbidge. The Signpost has been in continuous communication with Burbidge for over a month now. In an interview last April, Burbidge told the Signpost he had received Greenhalgh's memo, but he would not release the information because it was impossible to extract the list from the computer. On May 8, department chairmen ahd received the list but were told by the Vice President for Administrative Services, Dr. Parry Wilson, not to let anyone see the information, it was "highly" confidential. Classified as public According to the Lieutenant Governor's Office, salaries at Weber State has been classified as "public" information by the Utah Record's Committee since July, 1977. Information Director, Dave Turner, said the Lieutenant Governor's Office had also notified Weber State twice informing the administration that salaries classification had been changed to "public." The Director noted the college had not acknowledged the letters. Burbidge told the Signpost the next step was to submit another written request to Greenhalgh, who in turn would send a memo to him, who in turn would take the matter under consideration. When asked if he would then release the information, Burbidge said he would consider it. The Signpost submitted the second written request Thursday to Greenhalgh. By law, Weber State College must comply with the Signpost's request. The newspaper has also obtained an attorney. by Donna Schultz Weber State Head Basketball coach Neil McCarthy asked assistant coaches Steve Sparks and Pete Barry to resign, according to an announcement released yesterday by the WSC Sports Information office. Previous information Although McCarthy fired the men at the beginning of May, previous information alleged that Sparks and Barry had resigned. Athletic Department officials felt that had the dismissal been revealed, Sparks and Barry would have been hampered in their efforts to find other posistions. "This had nothing to do with personalities," McCarthy said. "I need some other abilities in my assistant coaches." He explained that he had reasons for asking the men to leave, but that it was not professional or necessary to state those reasons. Presently on top In the past four years at Weber State, McCarthy has averaged 20 wins per season. One of his goals is to build the Wildcats in national standing. "We are a top-30 team now," he said. "We should be in the top 15." He added that his dismissal of Sparks and Barry was in the best interest of the WSC basketball program. Rumors denied McCarthy denied rumors that Graduate Assistant Dick Hun-saker has been chosen to fill one of the positions. "Dick is being considered," McCarthy explained, "along with over 50 other applicants. I have letters and phone calls coming in all the time." He expects to name his new assistants sometime in June. Coach Steve Sparks has accepted a position at Montana State University, and Coach Barry is in Washington. Neither were available for comment. Dead week is due for another resurrection |