From a statement by the Texas Exes, the university’s alumni association:
The terms of three distinguished members of The University of Texas System Board of Regents expired this past Friday. These appointments will be made by Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
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If the new regents are anything like the last group, the appointments could set off another firestorm of criticism of Perry’s governance of the university. Perry’s most recent appointees opposed many of the goals of the university, including its commitment to research. The university has been in turmoil ever since Perry named Gene Powell as regents’ chair, and Powell promptly made statements to the effect that UT doesn’t need to produce a “Cadillac education,” an old-fashioned Chevy Bel Air would be just fine. Perry has also injected himself in fights over tuition increases sought by university administrators. UT’s immediate future may depend upon whether Perry’s next round of appointments are hostile to the university, as the previous group was, or inclined to support the administration.
