The Senate has reversed itself – and has approved an amendment to the higher education budget that would appropriate $854,000 – if the Board of Higher Education decides to buy out the contract of Chancellor Ham Shirvani.
Tuesday, the vote was 24 to 23 against the amendment. But it was approved Wednesday, 28 to 19.
Sen. John Andrist (R-Crosby) says although the amendment doesn’t force the Board to buy out Shirvani’s contract, it sends the wrong message.
"We're going back to the old style, where any time our college president is upset with the chancellor, we do an end run around him and see if we can get rid of the chancellor," said Andrist. "If we do that, we really do violence to our system."
Former Chancellor Robert Potts left after tangling with then-NDSU President Joe Chapman.
Sen. Dick Dever (R-Bismarck) says he supports the amendment –not because he wants to get rid of the Chancellor, but because he doesn’t like Shirvani’s tactics..
"I don't think anybody should treat anybody the way I've seen him treat others," said Dever. "The message that it (the amendment) says is that he needs to change his tactics."
The higher ed funding bill – with the amendment – will now be considered in the House.
