Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1942 [PAGE 943]

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940

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[June 20

STATUS OF UNIVERSITY C O U N S E L (42) I recommend that the Board of Trustees take the necessary steps to establish its legal right to employ counsel, specifically the right to employ Judge Sveinbjorn Johnson as University Counsel and Professor of Law and Norval D. Hodges as Assistant University Counsel. At its meeting on May 16, 1942 (Minutes, pages 903-904), the Board voted that vouchers continue to be drawn and certified for the payment of the salaries of Judge Sveinbjorn Johnson as University Counsel and Professor of Law, and Norval D. Hodges as Assistant University Counsel, who have been appointed to these positions by the Board of Trustees. T h e State Auditor of Public Accounts has informed the University that on the advice of the Attorney General his office will withhold payment of salaries to Messrs. Sveinbjorn Johnson and Norval D. Hodges until instructed otherwise by the Attorney General. In view of this situation it will be necessary to institute legal proceedings to recover their salaries. T h e action would be mandamus against the Auditor and possibly against the Attorney General. T h e Board should also retain counsel to advise as to its participation in the above proceedings and in any other proceedings that may be necessary to establish its right to employ Messrs. Johnson and Hodges in their present positions. I t w a s t h e s e n s e of t h e B o a r d t h a t n o a c t i o n o n t h i s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n is n o w n e c e s s a r y b e c a u s e J u d g e S v e i n b j o r n J o h n s o n is still U n i v e r s i t y C o u n s e l in v i e w of p r e v i o u s a c t i o n s :

1. T h e action taken by the B o a r d on M a y 16, 1942 (Minutes, pages 903-904), "that vouchers continue to be d r a w n and certified for the payment of the salaries of J u d g e Johnson a n d M r . H o d g e s as members of the University staff as in the past." 2. T h e action taken by the Board at the present meeting, approving the University budget and appointments to the staff for 1942-1943, including the reappointments of J u d g e Johnson and M r . H o d g e s ( M i n utes, page 9 8 6 ) . 3. T h e action taken by the Board at the present meeting with specific reference to the charges made by the Attorney General (Minutes, page 9 0 8 ) .

STUDENT HOUSING STANDARDS (43) In 1939 the Board of Trustees established a Division of Student Housing to maintain an inspection and supervisory service. Its responsibilities are (1) to maintain a continuing study of actual housing conditions in the community, (2) to determine what standards are necessary for healthful and safe housing, and (3) to secure adjustments of facilities and accommodations in present housing units to conform to minimum requirements for healthful and safe housing as determined by the best authorities on this subject. Housing standards were compiled by a committee consisting of the University Health Officer, the Dean of Men, the Dean of Women, the Director of the Physical Plant Department, and the Comptroller. After this group had made a thorough study of all the information which could be secured on standards and practices elsewhere, these standards (based on minimum requirements of the American Public Health Association) were then sent to the operators of all housing units on the campus, including the fraternities and sororities, with a recommendation that every effort be made to incorporate in the long-term plan of each house the proper measures for compliance with such standards. These standards are not applicable to fraternities and sororities exclusively. Student rooming houses, University operated residence halls, privately operated dormitories, and cooperative houses have all met or are making adjustments to meet the same standards. If it is found impossible to make certain recommended improvements due to war priorities on materials, such improvements may be postponed for the duration of the war. In fact, it is the policy of the