SEMO REGENTS OPPOSE HANCOCK II

Hancock II would be bad news for Southeast Missouri State University, the school's Board of Regents said Tuesday.

The regents approved a resolution opposing Constitutional Amendment 7, Hancock II, which is on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The regents also reviewed results of the school's strategic planning forums. "The forums were a report card on the university, and I think we made a high B," Regent Lynn Dempster of Sikeston said.

Four regents attended the meeting at the Show Me Center. A fifth, Ann Dombrowski, participated via speaker phone. The sixth, Mark Pelts of Kennett, was absent. Pelts, who has submitted his resignation, supports Hancock II.

He has maintained the statewide measure won't pose an extreme hardship to the university. Fellow regents argued otherwise.

Regent Don Dickerson, a Cape Girardeau lawyer, said Hancock II is poorly written and confusing. "We don't know exactly how much money might be dictated to be chopped from existing budgets," he said.

Various analyses indicate that Hancock II would trigger an immediate reduction of at least $1 billion annually in the state budget.

Dickerson said it would chop a third of Southeast's budget, about $11.5 million for fiscal 1996. The university, he said, can't survive such cuts without major layoffs or hikes in student fees, or both.

The resolution states that passage of Amendment 7 would lead to fewer students and staff at Southeast and halt plans for construction of a College of Business building.

Dickerson said funding cuts would severely affect highway and transportation projects and prisons. "I think the long-range damage to the state falls in other areas even worse than higher education," he said.

Regent Pat Washington of St. Louis said, "The chaos alone is reason enough to oppose it."

Board President Donald Harrison of Cape Girardeau said, "Someone once said, `Democracy works just fine until people realize they can vote for all the services and turn down all the costs.'"

Under Hancock II, tax increases would require voter approval. But Harrison said voters should look at electing "the right people in the first place" rather than enact Hancock II.

As to the recently held forums, the regents said it was clear that Southeast Missouri residents want more community colleges in the region.

But Dickerson said the university can't set up a community college district. "We have to try to find something to fill the need as best we can."

Harrison said, "I think they were pleased and surprised we would come out and speak to them on their turf." He said the hearings helped dispel the image of Southeast as "standoffish."

School officials said comments heard at the forum will be used in developing a strategic plan for the university's future.

Board of Regents agenda

Tuesday, Oct. 25

2 p.m., Show Me Center

Action items

Accepted financial report and management letter for fiscal year ending June 30, 1994.

Accepted annual audit of Student Recreation Center Revenue Bond Fund and Housing System Bond Fund.

Accepted annual audit on federal financial assistance programs.

Revised the personnel policy on affirmative action/equal employment opportunity.

Adopted a statement of expectations for members of the Board of Regents.

Discussion items

Opposed Amendment 7

Reviewed results of open forums on strategic planning.

Report items

Received report on operations and capital budget requests for fiscal 1996.

Received NCAA audit report.

Received report on construction contracts over $100,000.

Received the president's report.