The state Board of Regents reviewed the status of several bills concerning the regent universities during its meeting Thursday in Iowa City.

All nine regent members were briefed on the progress of six amendments in the Iowa Legislature during their meeting at the University of Iowa. The briefing included bills such as the alcohol ban in the residence halls and the federal budget for regent universities.

Regent Dr. Clarkson Kelly expressed confidence in the Legislature’s upcoming budget vote.

“The governor and the Legislature have always done an extremely fine job of funding the universities,” he said.

ISU President Martin Jischke said he felt the Legislature would make informed decisions about the federal financing plan. Jischke said he met with one of the Legislature budget committees Feb. 3 and thought it went well.

Jischke said he will be returning to the Statehouse Feb. 16 to meet with members of the Legislature’s infrastructure committee. The meeting will concern funding for future projects in Gilman Hall and the College of Business.

In addition to activities in the Legislature, Board of Regents members also discussed the revised 2000 budgets for the University of Iowa, Iowa State and the University of Northern Iowa. The revisions were initiated after the recent passage of a budget reduction bill by the Iowa Legislature.

Kelly said the budget cuts at the three schools went well.

“The universities always have to re-allocate,” he said.

Kelly said he was happy with the universities’ responses to the cuts since they did not “really touch things like the library or the direct student education.”

Regent and ISU student Lisa Ahrens said she also felt the reduction went over well.

“I think it could’ve been a lot worse,” she said. “I’m happy to see there are no cuts in student financial aid; that’s definitely a plus.”

Jischke said he was not as pleased with the budget results. “It’s not a happy thing,” he said. “It’s a bit of a setback for us.”

Because of the budget re-allocations, Iowa State has had to postpone several of its plans to hire more faculty and purchase new equipment, Jischke said. He said although fewer faculty and graduate assistants will be available to assist students, he hopes “the effect on the students will be minimal.”

In other business, board members also approved a request by Iowa State’s WOI Radio to move toward the construction of repeater stations in Spirit Lake and Carroll.

WOI General Manager Bill McGinley was pleased with the decision.

“There is a significant positive response for the proposed service,” he said.