From Nebraska Watchdog:
Four months after students at the University of Nebraska were hit with a 4% tuition increase the University has released a four page list of high priced cars and country club memberships that are handed out free of charge to NU’s top administrators and coaches.
Topping the list is a 2009 Porsche Cayenne, a sport utility vehicle with an average price tag of $83,000 and a top speed of 157 miles per hour. The man behind the wheel: Dr. Harold Maurer, Chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Maurer has also received two Omaha country club memberships; Happy Hollow and the Omaha Country Club.
According to the University, Maurer’s Porsche and club memberships, along with 51 other memberships and 87 other cars and trucks, are paid for through private donations and don’t cost the taxpayers a dime. The University says the perks are, ”…provided to the University of Nebraska employees as part of their compensation arrangements.”
Contacted by Nebraska Watchdog, University of Nebraska Regent Randy Ferlic was surprised to hear what Maurer is driving, “He’s (Maurer) got a Porsche?” Ferlic added, “That’s not politically savvy.” Nebraska Watchdog has tried to contact Maurer but we have been unable to reach him for a comment.
The vehicles driven by administrators are handed out by the not-for-profit University of Nebraska Foundation. The coaches’ cars are distributed by the Wheel Club at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Alumni Association at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
Along with Dr. Maurer others on the list include:
- UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman: 2007 Lexus ES 350, Country Club of Lincoln.
- UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen: 2008 Chrysler Town and Country, Kearney Country Club.
- NU President J.B. Milliken: 2004 Ford Explorer, Country Club of Lincoln and Omaha Country Club.
- NU Head Football Coach Bo Pelini: 2008 Nissan Armada, Knolls Country Club of Lincoln.
- NU Head Basketball Coach “Doc” Sadler: 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe, Country Club of Lincoln.
The list was released by the University after Jack Gould with Common Cause Nebraska filed an official request under the State of Nebraska’s Open Records Law.
Earlier this year Gould claimed that University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken failed to report income that Milliken received from the Foundation. Gould filed an official complaint with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. The Commission has not acted on the complaint.Last year the Commission fined former Peru State College President Ben Johnson $1,200 for failing to report over $400,000 in deferred compensation Johnson received from the Peru State College Foundation.
According to Ferlic the cars and country club memberships, “…provide some good”, by helping the University keep and attract better employees.
Gould tells Nebraska Watchdog that, ”When private money is pouring into a public entity it becomes dangerous because money brings influence.” Gould worries private donors could have a greater say in University policy than the public. Gould says he doesn’t want to know who donates to the Foundation but believes taxpayers, “… have a right to know how the University spends those private dollars.”
Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@nebraskawatchdog.org
