Student Response
“‘We Refuse To Be Complacent’ About UT”
Editorial dated May 16, 2012 by Senate President Michael Morton, Graduate Student Assembly President Michael Redding and Student Government President Thor Lund, supporting UT Austin President Bill Powers’ vision and stating the UT System Board of Regents pose a threat to the quality of The University of Texas at Austin.
Student Letter to the UT System Board of Regents
Written and signed by Senate President Michael Morton, Graduate Student Assembly President Michael Redding and Student Government President Thor Lund, the May 14 letter supports UT Austin President Bill Powers’ vision for the university and states students will continue to “stand with Powers.”
Make the most of MyEdu
Editorial in the December 1, 2011 edition of The Daily Texan by Student Government president Natalie Butler, chair of UT Austin’s Faculty Council Alan Friedman and Senate of College Councils president Carisa Nietsche about the UT System-MyEdu deal and how “[i]t is in the best interest of students and the rest of campus for us to work together and make MyEdu great for UT.”
University Senate uses time line to follow decisions of Regents
Article in The Daily Texan for July 4, 2011 about the Senate of College Councils’ interactive timeline and site devoted to the recent situation occurring with the UT System Board of Regents.
Our degrees matter
Editorial by Student Government President Natalie Butler, published in The Daily Texan on June 20, criticizing the “[s]o-called ‘reforms’ being pushed by outside interest groups” and voicing opposition to the “fringe groups” that want to “test their ideas on [UT Austin].”
Students Deserve to Be Heard
Editorial by Senate President Carisa Nietsche, published in The Daily Texan on May 3, criticizing the Regents’ lack of a response to the April 25 student letter and calling on the Regents to be more transparent and include more student input in current discussions.
Media Coverage of Editorial:
Student Letter to University of Texas System Board of Regents
Written and signed by Senate President Carisa Nietsche – as well as signed by ten College Council presidents and the presidents of Student Government and Graduate Student Assembly – the April 25 letter calls for greater transparency and student involvement and urges the Regents to keep research and teaching intermingled and to place a higher emphasis on the quality of education when making decisions.
Media Coverage of Letter:
Students speak out about UT research (The Horn – April 28, 2011)
Students Speak Out to Defend Research at UT (Austinist – April 26, 2011)
Young leaders urge regents to maintain UT research (The Daily Texan – April 26, 2011)
A united voice (The Daily Texan – April 25, 2011)
Quality is paramount, UT student leaders tell regents (Austin American-Statesman – April 25, 2011)
UT students weigh in on controversy (San Antonio Express-News – April 25, 2011)
UT Student Groups Weigh In On Board of Regents Controversy (KUT – April 25, 2011)
Letter to the Board of Regents from SG President Natalie Butler
Dated April 13, the letter was sent to the Board of Regents after Butler traveled to Arizona State University with several Regents and UT System officials to observe how ASU has moved many classes online. The letter states that ASU’s move to more online classes is not appropriate for UT and discourages the Regents from pushing for such a system.
Media Coverage of Letter:
UT Chancellor apologizes for Butler’s ASU comments (The Horn – April 22, 2011)
UT System sends apology to ASU for Butler’s letter (The Daily Texan – April 21, 2011)
SG president urges regents not to accept online degree model (The Daily Texan – April 20, 2011)
Student Leader Warns Against Turning UT Into ASU (The Texas Tribune – April 14, 2011)
Research is More Important Than Ever
Editorial dated April 12 by Senate President Carisa Nietsche about the importance of research to the University of Texas at Austin.