Board of Regents discuss UNL additions

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents held its first meeting of the semester last Friday. 

In contrast to last year's meetings, which were dominated by talk of budget cuts and tuition increases, the Sept. 4 meeting adopted a theme of growth and success.

Committees kicked discussion off with an Innovation Campus update. Campus consultants Mary Jukuri of JRR/Smithgroup and Jay Noddle of Noddle Cos. made a presentation of design possibilities. 

Innovation Campus will take 20 to 25 years to complete and could encompass 90 to 100 acres. Current plans leave room for a hotel, retail stores and parking for more than 5,000 vehicles. 

Regent Jim McClurg raised the issue of parking and traffic near the Bob Devaney Sports Center once Innovation Campus is built.

"We need specific access to the stadium 20 to 30 times a year," McClurg said. "People won't come if they can't access (the stadium)."

The board also discussed additions to the Devaney Center at the meeting. The Regents unanimously approved the program statement and budget for the additions as well as the selection of a design firm.  The $18.7 million upgrade will be paid for by private funds and includes practice facilities for men's and women's basketball, locker room additions and office suites. 

Regent Chuck Hassebrook raised the question of whether the renovation was necessary due to the city of Lincoln's interest in building an arena in the Historic Haymarket District. 

"I think the practice facility and the associated elements around it, again, is within the context of what we need to remain competitive in Division I basketball," UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman said in response to Hassebrook's concern.

Regent Tim Clare also chimed in.

"I'd just like to add that remaining competitive as a Division I basketball program is not simply limited to ‘because everyone else has one, we need one too'; it's for space. There's so many activities running through the Devaney right now, that they can't find practice space," Clare said.

NU President J.B. Milliken also announced a 2.6 percent enrollment increase for the university – the highest enrollment in 13 years. 

UNL individually showed a 2.2 percent increase, which amounts to 527 students. 

"People tend to stay closer to home. It's an economic issue," Milliken said. "I think we'll be seeing even more Nebraskans staying close to home, too."

One hot button issue on the meeting agenda included the land exchange agreement between UNL and the corporation that owns the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity house. 

The fraternity will exchange its plot of land at 1345 R St. with the university for a plot at 1645 R St. The terms of the agreement also guarantee the fraternity a payment of $193,000, enough to build a house at its new location. 

The swap allows UNL to demolish the existing house and use the land for parking or other facilities. 

Many regents considered tabling the bill until the next meeting because two members of the board were absent – Regent Howard Hawks and Regent Kent Schroeder.

Hassebrook was also concerned about the timeliness of the agreement.

Next to the house sits the current Culture Center, which will be torn down once the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center next to the Nebraska Union is complete. Perlman said it would be easier to demolish both the house and the old center at the same time. 

"We have an opportunity to make a transaction here," Perlman said. "There is a compelling need for parking and a compelling need to do it now. 

"I can't guarantee you that further delay would keep our partners interested."

Eventually, the board approved the agreement by a narrow margin of 4-2. 

The next Board of Regents meeting will be Oct. 23 at Varner Hall on East Campus. 

On Friday, the board also approved:
    * Robert E. Knoll Residence Center as the name for the 17th and R residence hall
    * Plans for an expansion to the Ken Morrison Life Sciences Research Center at UNL. The $8 million project depends on federal stimulus funds
    * The establishment of a UNL School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
    * A change in the tuition policy, allowing veterans' residency to remain despite deployment

courtneypitts@dailynebraskan.com