I have generally been impressed by UT regents’ chair Paul Foster’s ability to smooth the waters concerning the Bill Powers controversy. But Foster
was out of line when, a day after the University of Texas System announced that Powers would step down in June 2015 — ending a standoff that many thought would end with his firing — he “lashed out at unnamed outside meddlers.” At the regents meeting Thursday Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa also rejected speculation that Powers had been asked to resign because of accusations that lawmakers wielded undue influence in university admissions.
Well, Mr. Chairman, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. You hold a position of immense responsibility, and if you don’t want to be criticized, there are plenty of other things for you to do other than assail members of the public for airing their well-founded concerns about the damage this collection of UT regents–one of the worst I have ever seen, I might add–has inflicted upon the university. You are not immune from criticism, and members of the public have every right to make their opinions known to you.
