Horns247 Board

Thats a much better use of their time then trying to force the Texas-Aggy football game.

This 'bru-ha' is the political chicanery as instigated by our Gov, Slick Rick, who has not been subtle in his
mission/agenda to not only denigrate Powers, but, in the process, our entire university...Remember, the Gov
is a former Aggie cheerleader :)...I am glad to see our Senators & Reps "stepping-up-to-the-plate" to
squelch this obvious political agenda...there are Perry appointees on our BOR who also are behind this
mess...

Thanks, BB for this post, as there appears to be a "battle" brewing here that COULD prove another
embarrassing moment for our Gov--no doubt, more is to be revealed in that regard...after his embarrassing
performances in the Presidential Debates, one would wonder why Perry would take the "political risk" here,
by appearing as political vendetta...

Don't think Perry sees much value out of a diploma. All he got for his was a white jump suit and, hell, he's now the gubnah of Texas! Who could need more?

Shouldn't the Master Governator/Debator of the State of Texas be more concerned about the upcoming sunset review of the Texas Haircutter's Commission?

Thank you for clearing up so many questions about that idiot. I live out of Texas, so I had no idea why he was/is so FUBAR. Now I know. It's not just UT fooball that is in a lull, the govenorship must have hit rock bottom. Wow

Students will leave/not apply after quality professors take jobs out of state.

Don't think for one minute that aggies are above "aggifying" their political offices. I used to work for John Sharp when he was Comptroller and he "aggified" everything from maroon manuals to flying the aggie flag instead of the Texas state flag. Once an aggie always an aggie. Responsibility for their office often takes a backseat to their aggieness.

Sorry, did not mean to quote the previous post.
Here is another article from the Austin American Statesman, quoted, properly attributed, with the web link.

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/senate-leaders-plan-hearings-on-powers-regents-spa/nWSzh/

STATESMAN CAPITOL WATCH: University of Texas
Senate leaders plan hearings on Powers, regents spat

By Mike Ward

American-Statesman Staff

A day after state legislative leaders strongly signaled their support for University of Texas President Bill Powers, Senate leaders on Tuesday announced plans to hold hearings on reports that some UT regents are engaged in a power struggle to push Powers out.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who teared up Monday while publicly lauding Powers during the Senate session, said while the forums for the hearings haven’t been decided — either in separate House and Senate hearings or a joint legislative panel — “there will be hearings.”

In the past two years, Powers has clashed with regents on tuition increases and the faculty productivity, among other matters, and has faced increasing public questions by a few of them. Powers is thought to hold a slim majority of support on the nine-member Board of Regents.

“There will be a number of different subjects the Senate and House will want to look into,” Dewhurst said without elaboration.

Senate Higher Education Committee Chairman Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, said lawmakers want to know whether the regents are going beyond their policy-setting roles and are meddling in administrative and operations functions at the university, which should be Powers’ role.

“We want to know whether the regents are micromanaging the university to its detriment,” Seliger said.

He said regents will be called before whatever committee investigates that matter and investigates anonymous letters Dewhurst cited Monday as criticizing Powers and his family. The lieutenant governor said he had been told that those letters were trumpeted by one of the regents.

Dewhurst and Seliger said some of the allegations involve Powers’ private life dating back 30 years, to a time when Powers was teaching at UT. Powers, 66, has been president of the 52,000-student flagship school since 2006.

Asked about the letters, the content of which hasn’t been revealed, Seliger said: “We’ll either request or subpoena them when the time comes.” But he was emphatic: “We want to see the letters.”

Officials of the UT System and the Board of Regents didn’t respond to a request for comment regarding the letters.

Dewhurst said the investigation could be handled by existing Senate or House committees, a joint committee or a Senate-House legislative panel that worked on higher education issues last year.

In a statement to The Associated Press, UT spokesman Gary Susswein said: “President Powers appreciates all the support he’s received this week from the lieutenant governor and other lawmakers. The president will cooperate fully with the Legislature as it examines issues related to UT and higher education.”

Dewhurst said he expects details on the scope and focus of the inquiry to be firmed up in coming days.

On Monday, the Senate and the House approved congratulatory resolutions honoring Powers, as a show of legislative support for the UT chief.

In a dramatic and emotional statement during the Senate session, Dewhurst said Powers had been subjected to character assassination that ultimately threatens the state’s reputation. He also questioned whether the regents’ actions are undermining governance of the 15-campus system headquartered in Austin.

Seliger and other senators said Tuesday that there is active discussion about changing state law to keep university regents focused on policy and to block them from interfering in administrative decisions — even possibly sending to voters a constitutional amendment on the matter.

“If the regents have a problem with the president of the university who works for them, they can fire him … do it up front, not under the table,” Seliger said, echoing comments from other senators. “Simply making things tough on the president is irresponsible.”

+1

I would be careful in calling them "Texas's" brightest students. That's all. No need to elaborate. Go take a walk around UT.

If those are the ones that might go find another university, then oh my heart just breaks.

I think getting the most likely to succeed individuals that were born and raised in Texas into UT would helpful. Wanna know why employers are so tickled with Tech and Aggie grads these days?

Something is wrong when Tech engineers have jobs before they even walk the stage, and UT engineers don't. It's called the backfire of elitism.

You're really going to have to elaborate. UT is the best public university in the state. Also, you are making my point for me. If you would rather go to a "non-elitist" institution, pay less, and have an easier time being admitted, there already exist a number of schools in Texas that fit that criteria.

the moderating on the blue board is complete and utter bullshlt and the sunshine pumping / head in the sand / pie in the sky / thin skin types here annoy me, so when my vip membership expired, i didn't re-up. i still lurk occasionally, but probably only post once a week or so.