Barking Carnival - The Bill Powers SituationSince 1883.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47205/barking-carnival-fave.png2014-07-09T14:43:13-05:00http://www.barkingcarnival.com/rss/stream/39778972014-07-09T14:43:13-05:002014-07-09T14:43:13-05:00Powers Resignation
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<figcaption>Erich Schlegel</figcaption>
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<p>Effective June 2, 2015.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p>"Today UT Austin President Bill Powers submitted a letter of resignation, effective June 2, 2015, and I have accepted it." -Cigarroa</p>— Reeve Hamilton (@reevehamilton) <a href="https://twitter.com/reevehamilton/statuses/486954722595586049">July 9, 2014</a>
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<p>Here is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UT?src=hash">#UT</a> chancellor Cigarroa's full statement on Powers resignation date: <a href="http://t.co/FoMDFs7QCn">http://t.co/FoMDFs7QCn</a></p>— Reeve Hamilton (@reevehamilton) <a href="https://twitter.com/reevehamilton/statuses/486957357851631617">July 9, 2014</a>
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https://www.barkingcarnival.com/2014/7/9/5885075/the-university-of-texas-president-bill-powers-has-announced-hisSailor Ripley2014-07-08T11:51:39-05:002014-07-08T11:51:39-05:00Powers Counter
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Not this year?</p> <p>This was from a couple of days ago but just wanted to put it up in the storystream.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2014/07/06/powers-proposed-pushing-resignation-2015/" target="_blank">The Texas Tribune</a>.</p>
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<p style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.35; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">This sentiment was reiterated by Hunter Rawlings, the president of the Association of American Universities, an elite, <span>high-profile</span> organization of top research universities, of which Powers is currently chairman.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.35; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">In a statement, Rawlings noted Powers' long-standing tension with current UT System regents, all of whom were appointed by Gov. <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #008990;" data-tooltip="/directory/rick-perry/quicklook/" href="http://www.texastribune.org/directory/rick-perry/">Rick Perry</a>.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.35; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">"I thought the State of Texas had in the past two years reached the outer limit of political intrusion into academic institutions," Rawlings said, "but apparently not: now a board appointed by a lame duck Governor, and, astonishingly, a lame duck Chancellor, are threatening to oust a highly accomplished and popular president of Texas’ flagship university, and a national leader in higher education."</p>
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<p>Again, NO POLITICS is the idea around here. We realize this nudges close to the third rail but it's important enough to keep discussing. Let's try to do it the right way.</p>
https://www.barkingcarnival.com/2014/7/8/5881101/bill-powers-counter-proposal-to-francisco-cigarroaSailor Ripley2014-07-04T15:04:31-05:002014-07-04T15:04:31-05:00Bill Powers forced to resign?
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<figcaption>Erich Schlegel</figcaption>
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<p>Hmmm...</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>UT President Bill Powers has been told he must resign today, effective in the fall, or be fired next week, a well-placed source tells me.</p>— Ralph Haurwitz (@ralphhaurwitz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ralphhaurwitz/statuses/485142624123117568">July 4, 2014</a>
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<p>UT President Bill Powers has refused to resign but is willing to discuss a timetable for leaving office, a well-placed source says.</p>— Ralph Haurwitz (@ralphhaurwitz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ralphhaurwitz/statuses/485148723173810176">July 4, 2014</a>
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https://www.barkingcarnival.com/2014/7/4/5871467/bill-powers-to-resignSailor Ripley2014-05-21T14:23:45-05:002014-05-21T14:23:45-05:00UT Regent Faces Slow Impeachment Process
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<p>The stand off between Texas legislators and UT Regent Wallace Hall promises to stretch out over the summer as the House Committee begins the process of drawing articles of impeachment</p> <p>Last week the Texas House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations voted voted that they believed UT Regent Wallace Hall had committed acts that warranted impeachment. They also said they hoped <a href="http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2014/5/13/5713774/texas-legislative-committee-to-ut-board-of-regents-your-move" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><b>that Hall could be persuaded to resign</b></a></p>
<p>Hall told them to shove it.</p>
<p>So Wednesday the committee began the process of producing articles of impeachment - <a href="http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Don-t-expect-impeachment-vote-on-UT-regent-soon-5495476.php" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><b>a process that promises to drag out at least through the summer.</b></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Don-t-expect-impeachment-vote-on-UT-regent-soon-5495476.php" style="background-color: #ffffff;"></a>The public hearing Wednesday was to gather information from legislative officials on exactly how the procedure should work. Committee Co-Chair Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, made it clear that it will be a time-consuming task.</p>
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<p>"It's a real lengthy process. ... We're looking at a couple of months," said Rep. Carol Alvarado. There will be "no formal voting or anything like that" Wednesday, she said.</p>
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<p>Hall's has been accused of running a one-man campaign to get UT-Austin President Bill Powers out of office.</p>
<p>He has been charged with releasing confidential student information, making oppressive records requests as well as intimidating University officials in an effort to oust President Powers. Hall says he is attempting to uncover wrongdoing at the system's flagship campus.</p>
<p>During Wednesdays session about the procedural process, the committee will go into executive session to discuss what should be included in the articles of impeachment. After Wednesday the Committee is not scheduled to meet until next month.</p>
https://www.barkingcarnival.com/2014/5/21/5739076/ut-regent-halls-impeachment-process-begins-slow-grindStephen Ross2014-05-13T11:36:46-05:002014-05-13T11:36:46-05:00Texas House Increases Pressure on UT Regent
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>A Texas House Committee says it has reasons to impeach UT Regent Wallace Hall, but will wait a few days before acting on its belief. </p> <p>UT Regent Wallace Hall has outstepped his authority - enough so to warrant impeachment.</p>
<p>That is what the House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations said in a 7-1 vote Monday. The committee stopped short of drafting articles of impeachment, <a href="http://www.texastribune.org/2014/05/13/transparency-committee-looks-ut-system-changes/">and instead suggested that the UT System Board of Regents address the issue at their next meeting.</a></p>
<p>The House Committee expressed their displeasure with Hall, who has been accused of abusing his power during a personal investigation into operations at UT-Austin. He specifically has been accused of mishandling private student information, demanding an outlandish amount of University records as well as pressuring committee witnesses.</p>
<p>The Committee didn't recommend a specific action, but several are at their disposal. They could send articles of impeachment against Hall to the full Texas House. Or they could push for a vote of <i>"no confidence"</i> in Hall, calling for his resignation.</p>
<p>State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio sent a public memo to the Board of Regents when he said,</p>
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<p>"I would strongly urge and encourage the UT System to resolve this issue, working closely with the University of Texas, to come to some kind of closure before this committee takes a step further."</p>
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<p>Hall, who did not appear before the Committee during the hearing process, fired back with a statement of his own.</p>
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<p>"When a Board encounters problems, coverup, and intransigence at a taxpayer-funded institution, is the proper response to hold those who are responsible accountable, or to impeach the board member?"</p>
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<p>He went on.</p>
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<p>"My efforts as a regent are to serve the interests of our gret educational institutions, the students, faculty, and staff who make them great, and the taxpayers who fund them, not to appease a privileged class who abuse them."</p>
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<p>The Board of Regents are schedule to meet this Wednesday and Thursday in Austin. The House Committee will next meet on May 21<sup>st</sup>.</p>
https://www.barkingcarnival.com/2014/5/13/5713774/texas-legislative-committee-to-ut-board-of-regents-your-moveStephen Ross2014-04-29T10:20:04-05:002014-04-29T10:20:04-05:00UT Regent Secretly Taped Chancellor, Other Regents
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The latest example of the UT-Austin Board of Regents not always playing well with others has a Regent secretly taping the members in executive session.</p> <p>The continuing saga involving the UT System Board of Regents, the State Legislature and UT-Austin President William Powers has taken another soap opera turn.</p>
<p>Apparently a UT System Regent secretly taped a closed door session in August. The Texas Tribune is reporting <a href="http://www.texastribune.org/2014/04/28/ut-regent-recorded-chancellor-without-his-knowledg/"><b>that Alex Cranberg is the regent in question.</b></a></p>
<p>UT Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa was also involved in the executive session, and was there to discuss the dispute between President Powers and several members of the UT Board of Regents.</p>
<p>That conflict has led to a state legislative committee to look into the possible impeachment of UT-Austin Regent Wallace Hall for abuse of power. The committee has turned over its report to the Travis County' District Attorney's office to see if any of his actions (including massive open records requests), led to any breaking of the law.</p>
<p>As for Cranberg's taping of the August meeting, the Texas Tribune reported the reaction of two former Chairmen of the Board.</p>
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<p>James Huffines, who chaired the UT System board from 2004 to 2007 and again from 2009 to 2010, did not mince words. "Any appointee on any state board that records part of an executive session without the knowledge of other appointees has lost the trust and confidence and should consider resigning," he said.</p>
<p>Charles Miller, who was chairman of the board from 2001 to 2004, said that it was "unusual, but not necessarily wrong." He said it was important to consider the context: that the August board meeting where the recording occurred featured "a review of a president who has continually had trouble with his board, individual regents and the previous chancellor as well."</p>
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<p>Earlier this week the UT system released notes from the meeting taken by regents Hall and Cranberg. The notes indicate that Cranberg felt President Powers was "essentially insubordinate," and that Chancellor Cigarroa had previously asked President Powers to resign and he had refused.</p>
<p>Last December Chancellor Cigarroa recommended that Powers remain in office provided that he work to improve his relationship with both the Chancellor and the board.</p>
<p>This past February Cigarroa announced his resignation later this year to become the head of pediatric transplant surgery at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio.</p>
<p>As for the surreptitious taping, the UT System is seeking permission from the Texas Attorney General to not release the contents to the public.</p>
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<p>"Unfettered written exchanges and dialogues help facilitate decision on policies that improve visibility, economic performance, and international prominence of UT System and its institutions," they wrote. "The ability of these individuals to opine, investigate, explore potential problems and suggest changes is an invaluable internal management tool that actively promotes constructive checks and balances throughout the system."</p>
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<p>Then there is the matter of the <b><a href="http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/GV/5/A/551/G/551.146">legality of taping such a meeting</a></b>.</p>
<p>Texas Government Code Section 551.146 states:</p>
<p>An individual, corporation, or partnership that without lawful authority knowingly discloses to a member of the public the certified agenda or tape recording of a meeting that was lawfully closed to the public under this chapter:</p>
<p>(1) commits an offense; and</p>
<p>(2) is liable to a person injured or damaged by the disclosure for:</p>
<p>(A) actual damages, including damages for personal injury or damage, lost wages, defamation, or mental or other emotional distress;</p>
<p>(B) reasonable attorney fees and court costs; and</p>
<p>(C) at the discretion of the trier of fact, exemplary damages.</p>
<p>(b) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a Class B misdemeanor.</p>
<p>(c) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(1) and an affirmative defense to a civil action under Subsection (a)(2) that:</p>
<p>(1) the defendant had good reason to believe the disclosure was lawful; or</p>
<p>(2) the disclosure was the result of a mistake of fact concerning the nature or content of the certified agenda or tape recording.</p>
<p>(a) An individual, corporation, or partnership that without lawful authority knowingly discloses to a member of the public the certified agenda or tape recording of a meeting that was lawfully closed to the public under this chapter:</p>
<p>(1) commits an offense; and</p>
<p>(2) is liable to a person injured or damaged by the disclosure for:</p>
<p>(A) actual damages, including damages for personal injury or damage, lost wages, defamation, or mental or other emotional distress;</p>
<p>(B) reasonable attorney fees and court costs; and</p>
<p>(C) at the discretion of the trier of fact, exemplary damages.</p>
<p>(b) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a Class B misdemeanor.</p>
<p>(c) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(1) and an affirmative defense to a civil action under Subsection (a)(2) that:</p>
<p>(1) the defendant had good reason to believe the disclosure was lawful; or</p>
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<p>(2) the disclosure was the result of a mistake of fact concerning the nature or content of the certified agenda or tape recording.</p>
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<p>As for the legislative committees investigation into the possible impeachment of regent Wallace Hall, their report is due out in early May.</p>
https://www.barkingcarnival.com/2014/4/29/5664584/ut-regent-secretly-taped-closed-door-meetingStephen Ross2013-12-12T18:32:55-06:002013-12-12T18:32:55-06:00Powers stays in power
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<figcaption>Erich Schlegel</figcaption>
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<p>And that's a good thing.</p> <p>Earlier today, it wasn't for sure. At the close of the day, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/ut-regents-may-decide-powers-future">he remains in his spot.</a></p>
<p>Hook 'em!</p>
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<p>Once the panel returned to open session, UT Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa told the board of regents that Powers should keep his job, but that he needs to improve his relationship with the panel.</p>
<p>"There are problems," the Chancellor said. "I've addressed these problems. It is my expectation together President Powers and I will work on them in the future."</p>
<p>It was the climax of an emotional day for two of the Austin campus' best-known figures. As the closed-door session began, Powers spoke briefly to reporters and affirmed his support for Longhorns football coach Mack Brown.</p>
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<p>It annoys me that he ends up having to discuss Mack Brown but <a href="http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2013/12/12/5204070/mack-brown-non-committal-on-job-status-at-alamo-bowl-press-conference#pgh/10/1645.683349609375" target="new">it is what it is and we are who we are and you take what you do</a>.</p>
<p>Congrats to Bill Powers and congrats to my sheepskin.</p>
https://www.barkingcarnival.com/2013/12/12/5205510/bill-powers-is-still-the-president-of-university-of-texasSailor Ripley2013-12-12T10:53:38-06:002013-12-12T10:53:38-06:00Powers in power?
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<figcaption>Erich Schlegel</figcaption>
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<p>Described in the media as an ally of Mack Brown.</p> <p>From <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/dennis-dodd/24373158/texas-president-expects-to-remain-in-current-position" target="_blank">CBS Sports</a> of all places.</p>
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<p>Breaking: UT president Bill Powers expected to remain in his current position, sources told <a href="http://t.co/VbbNGHUQa0">http://t.co/VbbNGHUQa0</a> <a href="http://t.co/cEE6eVWrDL">http://t.co/cEE6eVWrDL</a></p>— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/dennisdoddcbs/statuses/411165907944108032">December 12, 2013</a>
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First save The University, then we'll deal with bread and circus.
https://www.barkingcarnival.com/2013/12/12/5203970/report-bill-powers-to-remain-as-university-of-texas-presidentSailor Ripley