Former A&M president, distinguished alumnus, assail regents
Writing in The Eagle, the newspaper for Bryan-College Station, president emeritus Ray Bowen and distinguished alumnus John Hagler charge that A&M regents have “failed the university.” The article appeared on April 21, San Jacinto Day, the most important date on the Aggie calendar. This is the day on which Aggies around the world gather for Muster, a ceremony at which the A&M community honors those who have died in the past year. When their names are read, friends answer “here.” The publication date is no accident. It was a solemn article for a solemn occasion. Read the whole piece, but here’s a sample of what Bowen and Hagler believe:
Our university’s governance began to be corrupted when the governor’s appointment of regents was not primarily based on a candidate’s fiduciary loyalty to the university, on competence and on qualifications, but rather based on their personal and financial relationship with the governor. These practices have been broadly reported in the news outlets of our state.
As a consequence, these same regents have cost the taxpayers significant “settlement” sums for regent failures in presidential or chancellor selections. The damage has continued with ill-advised and counterproductive intrusions by both regents and the chancellor into the academic and administrative autonomy of our flagship, Texas A&M University. One chancellor, now departed, even explored combining his office with the presidency of Texas A&M University.
A highlight of irresponsibility came when our regents began to implement, in a secretive way, the half-baked proposals of a wealthy oil man and the pseudo think tank misnamed the Texas Public Policy Foundation. No one can be against controlling costs and teacher efficiency. But our university — one of the most administratively efficient and well-regarded universities in the state — should not have been the starting place for this discussion, and our regents failed everyone by rolling over without a peep and facilitating an illegitimate disruption of the university’s sanctioned mission.
Tagged: rick perry, Texas A&M, TPPF
Anonymous says:
Only description of TPPF better than “pseudo think tank” might be “don’t think tank.”
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Patriotone says:
This is such a sad commentary on higher education generally in Texas. Because of its traditions, I think A&M is a bit more of a fish bowl in this regard, but UT has similar problems as does all Texas higher education. We have a Governor who doesn’t care about quality and a Legislature without the spine or leadership to require quality and agree to pay for it. It is about time that people with a voice start speaking truth to power.
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jpt51 Reply:
April 23rd, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Patriotone – it’s not about not caring…
Haven’t you figured out Gov. Perry is just a clueless mouthpiece for the 1%?
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Class of 1976 says:
Indeed, the future of Texas A&M as a major American university is at stake. There are those who would turn it into a football mill and college for professional training, just like its SEC brethren.
Those of us who have families intertwined with the love and lore of Texas A&M need to take this moment to stand up and DEMAND higher academic standards, support for research and the elimination of the mindset that the radicals now in charge of this great university are the future.
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jolie in austin says:
off-topic spleen-venting, again, from that goof-ball johnbernardbooks. I don’t know him, but I feel like I know him. and I regret it.
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Flip Reply:
May 1st, 2012 at 9:27 am
I imagine JBB is an aggie, if educated.
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Willie says:
I looked up the full article. Well written and well presented. Texas A&M, and all Texas universities all ill served by Perry and his cronies.
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Mac the Knife says:
Colleges and Universities are failing because of poor leadership by republicans like Rick Perry. Republicans worship these “undereducated” gasbags and the real truth is these guys can’t make it in the public policy world, or the business world.
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Anonymous says:
Is it true all Regent decisions have to be run through Jeff Sandefer?
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JohnBernardBooks says:
Universities and Colleges are failing because of the leaders in EDu. A perfect example is Lawerence Summers, he was fired from his cush job as Harvard Presidentfor stating what liberals all believe, “there are no women in math because they aren’t smart enough.”
He then went to work for Bill Clinton and convinced him to fire Brooksey Bourne and disolve her dept. Her dept had oversight of derivatives. Derivatives are what brought down Wall Street in 2008.
Then Summers worked for Obama as his financial advisor, how’s that working out liberals?
He is now back at Harvard spewing his crapola.
He could not make it in the business world so he screws up Universities and governments.
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Anonymous Reply:
April 23rd, 2012 at 7:39 pm
Good God, man. Your post was about education. Proofread. Spellcheck. Fact-check. Do something to show you are not illiterate.
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John Johnson Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 7:22 am
Unlike light bird, JBB offers some compelling arguments at times. That is the case here. You, on the other hand, Anny, just posted an anal comment. This is not English class. git auff ur hi whorse
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The Mustache That Dare Not Speak Its Name Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 8:02 am
No, JBB doesn’t post compelling arguments, including in this circumstance. You seem to be the only person who finds his commentary worthwhile. That’s your prerogative (though you might want to spend a moment asking yourself why that is the case), but don’t expect anyone else to follow your lead.
Col. Mike Kirby Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 10:41 am
This would only be a compelling argument if in 2000 when bush and the republicans took over the first thing they did was regulate derivatives. But that didn’t happen,did it? And in 2007 everything collapsed. So what about his post is compelling, that he said something bad about Clinton?? Please enlighten us.
John Johnson Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
You guys make it too easy. JBB made a definitive statement about Summers role in several controversial issues. I find the derivatives the most compelling. Clinton started it; Bush turned a blind eye and Obama failed to support Elizabeth Warren who was going for the hedge funder’s and derivatives trader’s throats. Wall Street owns them all.
Bart Chilton, current head of Commodity Futures Trading Commission says that there is between $7 and $14 going into traders pockets in every tank full pumped yet Obama says there is nothing he can do about it.
Take the blinders off, Boys. You are showing your ignorance when you brag on either party, and your pettiness when you rail against a message because you can’t stand the messenger.
BSPatrol Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 8:39 pm
The bastion of conservatism, PBS, on its Frontline show tonight covered Clinton’s part in sending default credit swaps and derivatives traders into the dark where they could have their way with us. Asthe new Snopes, BSPATROL is calling out Col. Mike Kirby for slinging slanted bullshit.
Col. Mike Kirby Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
OMG. what is it with wingnuts and the inability to comprehend what you read??? Are you a wingnut because you have no reading comprehension skills or do you have no reading comprehension skills because you’re a wingnut?? Please find where I defend Clinton on financial regulation.
The Mustache That Dare Not Speak Its Name Reply:
April 23rd, 2012 at 7:59 pm
I usually don’t feed the prole, but it’s worth pointing out that this criticism might have some sting if JBB was someone who has been successful in business, government and/or education. But since he’s obviously a failure in all those things (successful people generally don’t sound like him) the criticism doesn’t count for much.
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Col. Mike Kirby Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
I love listening to this crap from wingnuts. First Obama is a socialist who is going to nationalize every facet of our economy and put us under the heel of the U.N. and then he is a capitalist tool because he won’t regulate futures trading. Isn’t it a shame that Obama is blocking all the republicans from regulating wall street? Please, get your story straight. I expect utter incoherance from your younger brother JBB, but we hold you to higher standards.
Oh, and JBB makes no coherent or compelling statements. It’s just drive-by drivel. And another thing, it wasn’t lack of support from Obama that derailed Elizabeth Warren, it was an absolute refusal from Senate republicans to allow her nomination to come up for a vote. Funny thing that democracy, the president isn’t dictator,who’d a thunk it.
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John Johnson Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
You, light bird, are a lost cause…an angry, unfulfilled, unyielding, myopic bore. You just want to argue and you won’t look at anything objectively. You’re good at name calling, ranting and generalization. You’re a pro at throwing back “yeah, but’s” but you’re a failure at backing up your positions. I will do my best to never respond to you again because it is purely a waste of time and effort.
For the rest of you readers…here’s the link to Bart Chilton’s remarks on the cost of fuel and the hedgefunder’s role in rising prices. It was broadcast by ABC News.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2012/02/how-wall-st-is-raising-the-price-of-gas/
John Johnson Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
One other thing…we all know how the Elizabeth Warren deal played out and how the Repub’s and Wall Street did everything in their power to squash the appointment. Obama, however, could have fought back. He could have used the bully pulpit. I believe he had other options to get her seated, but we heard nary a peep from him. He caved.
Col. Mike Kirby Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Please find when I angrily denied that speculation was the cause of rising gas prices?? I believe my point was that the president isn’t a dictator and doesn’t rule by fiat. Sorry if that was too subtle for you to grasp. You have more in common with your brother than I gave you credit for.
According to your own link:
It looks like something is being done. Oh and the bully pulpit is worth a bucket of warm spit. And can you please name a single republican member in the house or senate that is pushing for regulation of oil/gas speculation? How about a single member that is pushing for better consumer protection and who voted to confirm Elizabeth Warren?? I’m not unyielding, I’m just unconvinced by your bullshit. Keep trying though
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Anonymous Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
He threw up his hands and said, “I can’t do anything”. He’s not doing anything. He isn’t prosecuting Lehman Bros and the crooks who robbed us; he didn’t do anything on the Gulf Coast except “study” what he should do until it was too late; he didn’t do anything to get Osama – the Seals did, yet he takes credit; he has a proclivity for saying “I” instead of “we” in these situations; he made promise after promise that he has not kept (these replays ought to be good in campaign ads). He’s just an unqualifed phoney. People who continue to support him are ignorant sheep. Take a bow, Col. Mike.
Look forward to the intelligent response. Something worthy of a grade schooler with profanity in it. Show me what you got, bulldog.
Col. Mike Kirby Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 10:39 pm
I’m sorry you have “daddy” issues and are looking for a perfect protecter as president. Most adults understand that humans are flawed. They also understand that governing in a democracy is a cumbersome, messy process with many, many places where roadblocks can be setup by an intransigent opposition. The new requirement that 60 votes are needed to pass anything in the Senate rather than a simple majority is a perfect example. Perhaps sitting in on a 10th grade civics class would helpful for you.
Anonymous says:
At least they were able to make a 100 year decision.
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Harvey Soapstone Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
100 years runnin’ from the ‘horns! There is no reason at all for the aggies to have done this other than jealousy and spite. They will get what they asked for.
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The Mustache That Dare Not Speak Its Name says:
Kudos to Bowen and Hagler for standing up. This is the sort of leadership that has been lacking in our state for awhile, as Paul points out in his other post today.
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Stevie F. says:
I hope alumni at other schools will assert themselves as effectively as Bowen and Hagler.
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texun Reply:
April 23rd, 2012 at 9:43 pm
They might assert themselves, but they won’t change Perry’s campaign against higher education. He was a dismal student, a party animal, and now he’s showing just how much more important he is than the great university that gave him his degree, though he didn’t have a 2.0 average at the time. Don’t ever forget: Perry is not conventionally intelligent but he is clever–and he is, above all, vengeful and petty. A & M will pay the price for his academic failure.
Oh, and don’t expect the more enlightened members of his party to head him off. Peter O’Donnell, one of UT’s most generous backers, did his best with a rare public criticism of a fellow Republican, but Perry obviously shruggd off the attach from the Dallas set.
BTW, O’Donnell was chairman of the Texas Republican Party and he advanced as National Committeman, back in the days when ignorance, prejudice and pay-to-play didn’t define the party.
As to Perry, he will do his damndest to bring down A & M and UT-Austin and he will probably succeed because the sheep are herding themselves to the shearing and slaughter.
But, don’t despair: when he finally leaves office, Texas will still have one world-class university, Rice. How lucky that institution is to be free of Perry and to have a cadre of James Baker and his ilk between Rice and Perry.
As to my many friends who have degrees from UT-Austin and Texas A & M, they can look back on the happy days when their degrees counted for more than those from Idaho State.
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donuthin Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 11:00 am
Hopefully more and more responsible citizens will begin to speak up. Conservative should not equate irresponsible, but that is what it has come to, especially in Texas. Unfortunately, on one on the horizon that will change things.
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Class of 92 says:
Thanks for cheapening our degree, Mr. Perry.
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JohnBernardBooks says:
the onliest thing wrong with edu is the educrats running it.
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Aggie '78 Reply:
May 1st, 2012 at 9:30 am
Spoken by a product of a declining public education system.
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