Regents History: March 11-12, 1987

Board Membership

  • John McDonald, President, Dallas Center
  • Percy Harris, Cedar Rapids
  • Peg Anderson, Cedar Falls
  • Charles Duchen, Des Moines
  • June Murphy, Des Moines
  • Bass Van Gilst, Oskaloosa
  • John Greig, Estherville
  • James Tyler, Atlantic
  • Jacklyn Van Ekeren, Monroe

Highlights
The Board appointed Dennis Thurman as superintendent of the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School. Thurman was appointed because of his “23 years experience in education with the last 15 years being in visually impaired education.” Thurman served in this capacity until his retirement in June 2005.

The parietal rule, which mandates that all unmarried freshmen and sophomore students reside in university dormitories, fraternities, or sororities, was suspended by the Board at the University of Iowa for another five years and at UNI for another two. The rule originated in 1971 in an effort to combat low occupancy in UI dorms. 

The Board decided to seek legislative authorization to issue more than $15 million in revenue bonds supported by student fees and athletic department revenues for a new Iowa State student recreation facility to be built east of the existing recreation facility. This act eventually led to the construction of the Lied Recreation Athletic Facility on campus at ISU.

The Board registered in opposition of Senate File 210, which would change the name of the University of Northern Iowa to “Iowa University.” “Considerable confusion” was cited as the primary reason for this opposition.