The Brief: Top Texas News for Feb. 19, 2013
The Big Conversation
A dramatic show of support in the Legislature for University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers has cast the spotlight on discord unfolding within the state's largest university system.
The House and Senate on Monday passed resolutions honoring Powers, whose heated meeting with the UT System's board of regents last week exposed the strained relationship between system leaders and their flagship university, UT-Austin.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst provided perhaps strongest defense of Powers, at one point becoming emotional while extolling the president's character.
"I believe in reform, and I know Bill Powers believes ...
Comments (5)
Richard Cherwitz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What is becoming increasingly clear is that UT’s stature as a top flight public research institution, as well as the vital role President Powers has played in responding to the challenges facing higher education, is not a Republican or Democratic issue. Persons of both parties understand that no external body should try to micromanage UT and that it is critical to avoid allowing politics to interfere with governance. I hope Governor Perry and the Regents hear yesterday’s strong message and permit leaders and faculty to continue “to get up every day and do the best job… to advance the University of Texas."
John Johnson
Last session you would have heard nary a peep from Dewhurst or legislative members in defense of Powers. King Perry has grown weak in their eyes, and they are not afraid of his toothless bite.
Rick Cherwitz
RE: The Big Conversation
We at UT appreciate the strong support of the Texas Legislature.
What is becoming increasingly clear is that UT’s stature as a top flight public research institution, as well as the vital role President Powers has played in responding to the challenges facing higher education, is not a Republican or Democratic issue. Persons of both parties understand that no external body should try to micromanage UT and that it is critical to avoid allowing politics to interfere with governance. I hope Governor Perry and the Regents hear yesterday’s strong message from the Senate and House and permit leaders and faculty to continue “to get up every day and do the best job… to advance the University of Texas."
Diana Vandiver via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry seems to be leading the attack on Powers. UT is not a political forum for anyone. Too bad Perry doesn't take that into consideration. He'll never change--underhanded and dishonest tactics is what he lives by and always will. I hope he's gone from politics soon.
Richard Cherwitz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Dewhurst: Hearings on Powers planned
By Mike Ward | Tuesday, February 19, 2013, 11:43 AM
Austin American-Statesman
The Texas Legislature will hold hearings into allegations that University of Texas regents are improperly micromanaging UT President William Powers and may be trying to force him out, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said this morning.
In a brief Q&A with reporters, Dewhurst said the forum for the hearings has not been decided — either through Senate and House committees or a Senate-House panel legislative panel on higher education that looked into higher-ed issues last year during the interim.
“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 that senators support an inquiry by some committee into “the governance issues” at the University of Texas, but the forum has not been decided.
“There are discussions going on, yes, and, yes, I think it will move forward,” he said.
On Monday, the Senate and the House had approved congratulatory resolutions honoring Powers , as a show of legislative support for the UT chief. For months, friction between Powers and several regents has continued to surface — although both sides have remained mum on the issue.
In an emotional plea, Dewhurst on Monday accused unnamed regents of character assassination against Powers, though he provided no details. He said several regents are undermining Powers’ authority and said it needs to stop.
He had promised additional details today on what steps the Senate planned to take. This morning, he said he will have more information tomorrow — after details about the hearings are worked out.
Other senators said there is active discussion about changing state law to keep university regents forces on policy block university regents from interfering in administrative decisions — even possibly sending to voters a constitutional amendment on the matter.
Powers and the regents have remained mum so far on the controversy.