We understand that UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa has delivered an ultimatum to University of Texas at Austin President William Powers to resign his position immediately or be fired. We further understand that the Chancellor has provided no rationale for this action. On behalf of the English Department of UT Austin, we wish to express our strong support for the presidency of William Powers who, under extraordinarily difficult circumstances, has fulfilled his position with distinction. He has greatly enhanced the quality and stature of the institution's undergraduate education, its graduate programs, its research mission, its commitment to medical education and care, and its service to the community and to higher education generally. This year his alma mater the University of California at Berkeley, the Texas Legislature, and the prestigious American Association of Universities, which he now serves as President, have honored him. As his colleagues, we are proud to acknowledge his remarkable and distinguished achievements as we place our full support behind his continued presidency of The University of Texas at Austin.