I Support Bill Powers

Texas Student Media will be publishing a commemorative edition, "Powers Retrospective" on May 22. Content will be culled from the Daily Texan and Cactus, produced during his nine-year term. You can 'sign' the publication at farewellpowers.com and support student media at the same time.

12 years ago Featured

As a UT grad student at the Butler School of Music, I definitely support President Powers. If Rick Perry had his way with disciplines being rewarded based on ROIs, the music school would be doomed.

My wife, Kimberly, and I are graduates of the McCombs School and Life a Members of Texas Exes. We are active with Texas Parents, serving on the Advisory Board, and we have two children currently enrolled at UT Austin. We are dismayed and disappointed about the BoR and Chancellor's attempts to oust President Bill Powers. We have witnessed first-hand the powerful leadership and vision that President Powers provides to UT. We fully support President Powers and believe he should be allowed to complete his service to the University on a timetable that is appropriate for a gifted and talented leader.

I sent the following letter to my state representative and senator: The Honorable ________: I am writing you today to express my disapproval of the recent actions of the UT BOR and Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa's decision to force President Bill Powers' resignation. This request comes on the heels of his previous voiced support for the president approximately seven months ago. His stated reason is short on details and heavy on broad and vague statements. If there is new information that requires Powers' resignation or termination, the chancellor should provide full details which is quite reasonable considering the ongoing pressure from some regents to push the president out. A decision to terminate without conveying indisputable facts of poor job performance or inappropriate behavior will harm the university, make it very difficult to find a strong successor and set a terrible precedent--that decisions made by higher education administrators running counter to political headwinds will result in termination. I ask for you to voice your support of President Powers and to let members of the UT BOR and the chancellor know that I, along with countless other UT alums in your district, reject political meddling and micromanagement of one of our state's most valuable assets--The University of Texas at Austin. Sincerely, Ryan R. Gauna UT-Austin Class of 1997 Texas Longhorns Varsity Letterman - 1993-1997 T-Association Member

12 years ago Featured

I have two graduate degrees from UT. I began my law degree when Bill Powers was still running the law school. He has done tremendous things for the University. I am sickened by the power grab being attempted by those who would seek to turn UT into little more than a glorified trade school. Shame. Shame. I stand with President Powers.

I remember the John Silber exodus and all the top faculty who left UT when he did. It took years to recover that loss.

If President Powers has failed at executing his duties as president of UT-Austin, this information needs to be made public. If not, the regents and Chancellor Cigarroa need to find another place to play politics.

Rick Perry made a 'C' in Animal Breeding in college. Twice.

This is what happens when you have a Texas Governor appointing to the Board of Regents people who have no knowledge on governing this institution. Bill Powers is a powerhouse when it comes to raising the bar for bringing in money through donors, attracting professors and keeping the University's reputation beyond reproach. What a travesty to have done this request in such a disrespectful manner. Dr. Cigarroa must have a hidden agenda as Governor Perry has always been vocal about Bill Power's ouster. Whoever the lackey they hire in this position: BEWARE!

You may contact Chancellor Cigarroa directly to express your opinion. Here is his contact information: Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D.; Chancellor; 512.499.4201; [email protected]

It shouldn't be. However, it sure seems to be the way some professionals use the school for their personal ambitions and paltry agendas. Sad reminder of the Frank Erwin days...

It was the Frank Erwin putsch resulted in the decimation of the UT administration and outstanding Arts and Sciences faculty recruited by Dean John Silber (who Erwin summarily fired and who went on to rebuild Boston University into a great school). They're following Erwin's playbook. For a good read on those days, I recommend "Our Invaded Universities" by Texas Observer founder Ronnie Dugger. The events are also chronicled in several books by Kenneth Ashworth, who was a junior system administrator then.

I'm not sure he's greatly enhanced it. But at least he hasn't made it any worse, and that's something.

This is more than saving a good president; it's saving UT from another desaster that cost us dearly the last time around-i think it was in 1969. Jurgen Schmandt

The legislature has already said that there is an investigation into regent and nothing should be done until that is complete. Clearly chancellor cigarroa has an ego problem along with trying to keep up with people who are not the most important factor: students and the families working hard to get a good state education at UT. Appears to me Cigarroa needs to go and his regent cronies

I don’t think this addresses what needs to be done. The faculty need to express to the chancellor and the regents that a graceful transition needs to be arranged. Otherwise the whole thing is very damaging to the reputation of the university. Who is going to take this position if they may be treated this way? Why not ask the Chancellor and the Regents for a meeting? We are getting left out. Thanks for your efforts

Is this the way a great university does business?

The Chancellor and many of the Regents are an embarrassment to Texas. They're the ones who should be resigning immediately.

I stand by President Powers! He has done great things for this University and makes me proud to be an alum. I do not appreciate a Board that chooses to embarrass this great University.

If Bill Powers has done something to deserve being fired, that should be made public right now. To this outsider, though, it appears that he's one of the best things to happen to UT Austin in decades. I've communicated the above sentiment to my state senator and state representative. D. C. Toedt B.A. 1973, J.D. 1981