The recent controversy resulting from the Board of Regents’ Chancellor Roderick Groves’ efforts to obtain more control of the Regency universities is being followed by more unnecessary changes on contradictions.

A search will begin next week to fill the new position of vice chancellor for academic and student affairs. The reason given for the new position is the Regents’ office is “grossly understaffed.”

Although the position was authorized in 1986 under former Chancellor William Monat, funds were not available to hire a permanent person for the job who would earn between $30,000 and $40,000 per year.

This year, however, funds have been miraculously discovered. The funding will be taken from the minority transfer fund.

The vice chancellor’s duties are expected to include reviewing programs and analyzing new programs for approval for the Regency schools’ academic and student affairs departments.

Ted Heidloff, assistant vice chancellor for personnel administration, attempted to justify the Regents’ funding source by saying the new vice chancellor’s duties will support the Regents’ efforts “in minority student retention.”

There just doesn’t seem to be a clear connection between the position and its benefits for minority students.

Although the Regents might need help to complete office work, funds should not be taken from a program that probably will not benefit greatly from the position.

All of the funds in the minority transfer project should be used solely for that project. The project’s fund was appropriated by the state of Illinois and given it was given for a reason. The Regents’ should not use the minority project money for general public relations research and paper shuffling and then expect to get away with it by choosing a few words to appease the people the program benefits.