Published Monday, June 15, 2009 6:05 AM
Controversy has been brewing
By VIMAL PATEL
vimal.patel@theeagle.com
Texas A&M President Elsa Murano announced her resignation Sunday.
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A presidency born from controversy will end in controversy Monday as Elsa Murano -- the first woman and first Hispanic to lead Texas A&M University -- officially resigns.
But the fate of top-level administration remained unclear late Sunday, as regents could take action on "shared services initiatives" on Monday.
H. Russell Cross, executive vice president for operations -- who along with the provost is ranked as the No. 2 administrator at the university -- also planned to resign, according to an A&M official who saw a draft of his resignation letter. The official wasn't sure whether it had been sent yet, but the effective date on it was June 15.
The Board of Regents, Texas A&M University's ultimate governing authority, will gather for a special meeting at 9 a.m. Monday when major changes to the Texas A&M System and the 48,000-student Texas A&M University are a possibility. Regents will consider appointment, employment and dismissal of executive-level officers and employees of the Texas A&M System.
Murano could not be reached for comment Sunday, but she released a statement in which she said she hoped to return as a Texas A&M University faculty member.
"Our university is strong and I know that we will weather this storm," she wrote. "I sincerely hope and pray that we will intensify our efforts to protect and enhance Texas A&M's reputation. I trust that the important issues raised in recent weeks will be addressed in the Aggie way -- with integrity, selfless service and indomitable spirit. God bless you all, and gig 'em!"
Future plans unclear
Details of Murano's resignation, including how much severance pay she will receive, weren't known late Sunday. Her lawyer, Darryl Carter of Glickman, Carter & Bachynsky LLP in Houston, declined to comment. Her statement was released through Woodlands-based communications company Powers MediaWorks LLC.
The announcement comes three weeks after Texas A&M University System Chancellor Mike McKinney told The Eagle that combining his job and Murano's was one of several cost-cutting measures that would be considered.
Even though McKinney stressed no plans were in place, the idea that such a possibility was being considered caused a flood of outrage from faculty and A&M officials past and present.
The week after, in response to an open records request filed by The Eagle, a harsh job review of Murano by McKinney became public. In it, he gave her low marks for honesty and integrity and being a team player. Murano rejected the review in a strongly worded 10-page response.
The sparring, which drew statewide interest, was a turnaround from a year and a half ago, when McKinney, a former chief of staff to Gov. Rick Perry, recommended Murano to regents even though she wasn't one of three finalists selected by a search advisory committee.
The 8-1 decision to go with Murano -- Regent Gene Stallings didn't support the vote -- was criticized by faculty who saw it as an attack on shared governance, the concept of gathering as much input from as many stakeholders as possible before making a decision. Faculty members said the decision would hobble the president's popularity and lead to low morale among the faculty.
"It was a terrible situation," said Robert Bednarz, speaker of the Faculty Senate. "She had to overcome a disadvantage right from the start."
Bednarz said that if anything positive can come out of Murano's resignation, he hopes it will end what he called an era in which regents and the chancellor didn't consider seeking serious input from faculty an essential part of governance.
"This sudden resignation will almost certainly introduce instability at the university just when we were emerging from a time period during which almost every senior administrator at Texas A&M was replaced," Bednarz said. "In addition, the short tenure of the president and the manner in which her presidency ended will make it more difficult to attract the most high-quality individuals to apply for that position."
McKinney did not respond to a message seeking comment. In a brief statement released Sunday evening, he said, "We look forward to having Dr. Murano rejoin our faculty and continue her nationally recognized work in food science."
Morris Foster, chairman of the board, was quoted in the same statement released by the Texas A&M University System.
"Dr. Murano has served the university with distinction over the course of her career," he said. "I want to thank her for her service and commitment to the betterment of the university, its faculty and its students."
Foster also didn't respond to a message seeking comment. The statement said that plans for her succession will be taken up by the board "in the near future." It was unclear whether that meant at Monday's board meeting.
A faculty group had called on Texas A&M University faculty and community members to converge near the Rudder Tower fountains at 8:30 a.m. Monday morning in a show of support for Murano, a half-hour before the regents meeting.
That gathering, organized by the Council of Principal Investigators, a group that represents faculty researchers, will go on, but the focus will now be on the idea of shared governance.
Some expressed sadness on Sunday; others were seething.
"I'm outraged at the Board of Regents," said Bill Flores, an alumnus and president and CEO of Phoenix Exploration who also is a major financial supporter of Texas A&M. He was also on the 2007 presidential search advisory committee.
"One, they had an opportunity to choose from world-class candidates. Two, they succumbed and abdicated to political pressure to appoint a candidate who was less than ideal. Three, once they appointed that candidate, they gave her no support and no mentoring. And then they threw her to the wolves when she didn't cave in to their every request.
"Aggies everywhere ought to be outraged," he said.
It was unclear whether Murano was going to be at the Board of Regents meeting on Monday. In her last days, her popularity soared higher than ever, even as a scathing performance review submitted by McKinney in March was made public. In it emerged a picture of a president criticized by McKinney for working too closely with faculty and standing her ground in several instances.
McKinney made references to Murano blocking the Texas A&M System's inroads into research at Texas A&M University.
In one instance, McKinney wrote that Murano "refused to acknowledge her commitment to [the Board of Regents] or chancellor (re: VPR; Research Foundation."
The VPR appeared to be a reference to the vice president for research. Murano went forward with a national search and the candidate she selected, Jeffrey Seemann, a dean at the University of Rhode Island, is scheduled to begin next month.
In Murano's self-assessment of her performance filed in February, she wrote of communication between the A&M System and Texas A&M University as a barrier. She wrote that university officials found out about an agreement between Introgen Therapeutics and the A&M System -- an agreement that would affect faculty -- in media accounts.
Eluned Jones, a professor of agricultural economics, said that Murano did not become president in an example of shared governance, but that her commitment to it made that "water under the bridge."
She said that, after reading Murano's performance evaluation, the irony was that she was attacked for the very points that faculty praised her for. In one instance, McKinney wrote that Murano should "work WITH faculty, not FOR" them.
"She had the integrity to focus and support and facilitate an academic institution as it should be managed: like an academic institution," said Jones, who is a member of Murano's 24-person committee charged with making recommendations on shared governance. The fate of that committee, she said Sunday, is not known.
Signs of trouble
Ray Bowen, who served as president for eight years starting in 1994, said he's "saddened but not surprised" by Murano's announcement.
"When the stories about what the chancellor was thinking -- merging the positions -- began to spread a few weeks ago, it became clear that there was trouble," Bowen said. "I was hoping that she'd be given more time, more mentoring, more support, but it became evident that wasn't going to happen."
He described the system's handling of Murano in recent weeks as "a new standard of unprofessional treatment of a loyal employee."
Jess Fields, a student who accused Murano of lying to students in the search for the vice president for student affairs position, said the current situation appears to be a "power play" by the chancellor.
Fields and a group of students had said Murano made up her mind to select Joseph Weber as vice president for student affairs while she acted like she was still gathering input. Weber was extended an offer by Murano for the $250,000-a-year job in July, less than a week after Dean Bresciani abruptly resigned the post.
Weber is a former classmate of Gov. Rick Perry and has remained friends with him.
"This is not about Murano," Fields said on Sunday. "This is about someone else. We all know who that is. He has really nice hair and a good smile."
Many have lamented Perry's influence in the Texas A&M University System. The recent management dispute has intensified those concerns.
All Texas A&M University regents have been appointed by Perry. Most have donated to his campaign fund, Texans for Rick Perry. Regent Richard Box served as the governor's campaign treasurer.
Jay Kimbrough, the governor's chief of staff, used to be McKinney's deputy chancellor and general counsel. He has bounced back and forth from the governor's office and the A&M System.
And the governor has helped steer high-dollar projects to the A&M System. Most recently, regents approved $42 million for the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing, money that came from the state's Emerging Technology Fund.
In Murano's statement Sunday, she said the events of recent weeks have been taxing for the Aggie family. She said she resigned to do what's best for the university.
"I am truly grateful for the countless expressions of support that I have received from our faculty, staff, current and former students, and friends of Texas A&M," Murano said. "I cannot adequately express how much I appreciated your many letters, phone calls, e-mails, and especially your prayers. They have been truly uplifting and I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Comments
32 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:38 PM
Comment Title:
What are the qualifications for the $21,000.00+ per MONTH job?
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Posted by:
Tom Arnold On:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 8:33 AM
Comment Title: About TAMUS face & money, not race or sex
It has never been about race or sex – it is about money and face. Dr Mike rammed a privately-negotiated agreement with Introgen Therapeutics (IT) down A&M’s throat without A&M input. ----------------------------It turns out the bio-tech financial press had already labeled IT’s management, one of whom signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Dr Mike, “…top management at Introgen …wrote the book on how to perform misleading data analysis “ AND “Sadly, the empirical data presented—to date—suggests that the pocketbooks of Introgen insiders are doing better than the health of the patients in the Company’s cancer trials.”----------------------------------- Dr Mike & co. obviously did not do due diligence, but judging from Dr Murano’s self-assessment someone at A&M did, leading to “problems with communications”.---------------------------------------By the way, Introgen’s bankruptcy letter to creditors is also online.---------------Links (http://www.thestreet.com/story/10338486/5/introgens-data-mining-misleads.html http://seekingalpha.com/article/33114-introgen-therapeutics-empty-promises-for-cancer-patients-and-shareholders http://www.introgen.com/images/website224/20090525_creditor_and_shareholder_letter.pdf#zoom=75 ) ---------------------------------- This was probably all to be part of the Gov’s $42M National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing (NCTM). Go figure!
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Posted by:
Eric '98 On:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 4:57 AM
Comment Title: Be Careful of Your Criticisms
I have been absolutely disgusted with the behavior and opinions of some people lately - Aggies and all. You complain about people bringing up race and then you turn around and make disparaging comments centered on race. Don't you realize YOU make it in issue by mentioning it in the first place. Another example of your ignorance is your denunciation of preferential treatment for Hispanics or other minorities, and in the same sentence advocate for preference of your soon-to-be "white" minority (and I am white, by the way). You can't have your cake and eat it too...can't condemn something and then use it yourself. This whole debacle has nothing to do with race of gender. It's pure petty politics of the "good ol' boy" type and A&M is rife with it. This university (and education in general) is much too important to be toyed with as if it's a game or a feather in someone's hat. We need bright, insightful people running the system and its many campuses, at all levels. Not politically motivated people who no clue about how to run such a prestigious university. It's plain to see that the egos of old white men (albeit, successful in their own right) are far more important than the success of the university. Many of the regents didn't even have a clue what the faculty reinvestment plans were in the meeting yesterday! This plan was a monumental step made by Dr. Gates and they had to be informed of it just yesterday? Is that not an indication that they know nothing about the ship they steer? It's time for new leadership. McKinney needs to go as do many of the regents. They have tarnished the reputation of our school in a very insulting manner and I hope they possess the honor that Dr. Murano did and step down, realizing their contributions to this mess do no good for our beloved Texas A&M.
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Posted by:
James On:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 4:43 AM
Comment Title: What is funny
What is funny is that everyone one knows there is something fishy going on and your still closed minded. She should have never resigned to these losers who pretty much forced her to. I will never look at Mc 2 Face and Rick Pecker Wood the same. These guys made lots of Aggies question faith in A&M for ever and ever to come. Can you trust these all political guys now???? Every one deserves a 2nd chance and she was given none. Sad day in Aggieland to let one of your own disown over politics race and gender. <----Yes the truth.
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 12:49 AM
Comment Title: Where is Dr. Gates when we need him?....
One can only hope that KBH (or anyone else for that matter)wins the next gubernatorial election of this great state...and that the new governor quickly appoints an entirely new board of regents, who then vote to revoke Gov. Good Hair's degree, and then repossess his ring. Whether one support's Dr. Murano or not, it would appear that the governor's cronies have indeed trashed the Aggie Code of Honor.
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Posted by:
La Raza Gringo On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 10:47 PM
Comment Title:
La Raza from North Bryan is mad. Funny how they all wear their Walmart Longhorn shirts. Ricky G, I doubt your brother and sister went to A&M considering you stated one of them went to law school there. Most of my friends at A&M were hispanic and loved their school. Go whine to Obama loser and work on your English. Go complain to your Padre Gutierrez, he hates America.
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Posted by:
ralph On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 9:51 PM
Comment Title: revealed his hand
The first tip "something was up", was among the first articles written some 3 weeks ago.....'McKinney said his motivation' for 'considering' combining the two positions of President and Chancellor, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SAVING TAXPAYERS' MONEY...........that was my first clue this was not about combining the two positions at all, or saving those taxpayer dollars......folks who are drunk with their own power never think of saving the taxpayers anything!! And the rest unfolded even uglier than I could have imagined. When the governor, (whomever that may be), has the luxury of naming/appointing the BOR, and in this case, McKinney is his 'former' chief of staff as well......that is far too many people under the thumb of the governor.....I call this whole thing incest! A political family, if you will. Perry is also afraid of losing the primary to KBH and he wants to have job security when he moves into President or chancellor himself. In fact, I do not think he will even run for re-election, as his ego will not allow for his defeat. Even tho' he has served two terms, he arrived there basically by default....then he had 'incumbent' support, and here we are. It is a mess of political greed, and overestimated popularity. As for the racist remarks by posters, when can we ever hope to see people as who and what they are, rather than color and culture? Affirmative Action was a huge mistake, it just served to bring down the established quality of the workplace, and any other industries where it was practiced......if I own a business, I always want to look for the most 'qualified' person applying to work, serve or lead. In the case of Dr. Murano, I am doubtful she was hired by this yardstick of Affirmative Action. Those who run the University (BOR), Gov, & Chancellor, knew she would be easier to 'boot' than perhaps another gender or culture....they could always say 'they tried this route', and SHE failed, (not them). This did not begin just 3 or 4 weeks ago, but had its genesis before she was even selected. That sorry, selfish, greedy plan is just now unfolding. In the end, the preservation of the integrity of the University is all I am interested in accomplishing. Those in power now need to take a long look at themselves, and act in the best interest of the University....and put personal glory aside.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 9:30 PM
Comment Title: Chancellor McKinney
How does Chancellor McKinney admit to making such a huge mistake in hiring a president for A&M and then walk away with his career unscathed. He hired Murano against the advice of a lot of people and she seemed to be very unprepared for the position. It only makes sense that he should suffer some consequence. How does it make sense that he has major input in the next selection? I find it particularly sad that Rick Perry is quoted as having confidence in those running the System. I sure wouldn't. They have bungled this entire situation and it looks to me like a lot more people than just Murano need to lose their jobs.
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Posted by:
LM On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 8:14 PM
Comment Title: What is Affirm Action?
Student: You may want to refer to your poli sci or law textbooks in order to improve your understanding of Affirm. Action. When done correctly, the under-represented person is selected when all other things are equal! Example: You own a high fashion designer clothing manufacturing company, and most of your upper management are women. You have a management opening. Your top two applicants both graduated from top design schools. One is a woman with "usual" experience in fashion. Other is a man - not with as much experience as fashion, BUT lots in marketing. You can't go wrong with either one. Using Affirm Action, you chose the man. Why? It's EASY to fall back to the good-ol-girl network, and dismiss any contribution a MAN could make. But because his experience is unique, he could and probably would add a new dimension, new perspective to your workforce. It isn't about hirig UNQUALIFIED over more qualified. It's about thinking outside the box when determining what one means by qualifications, and hiring someone other than a clone of the rest of your workforce.
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Posted by:
student On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 7:52 PM
Comment Title: qualifications...
I dunno the details of this as far as whether it was really a case of affirmative action or not, but just wanted to point out that if this is basically a case of affirmative action, that doesn't mean she isn't qualified. It means she isn't AS qualified compared to the OTHER candidates. If that was the case, then yes it was basically affirmative action. Just wanted to point that out. It wouldn't mean she wasn't qualified, only that she wasn't as qualified as another person and still got the position.
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Posted by:
LM On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 6:45 PM
Comment Title: Affrm Action? No Way!
Those who assert Murano was an affirm action hire (suggesting she had little if any qualificatins), take a step back and check out her resume. GHW Bush appointed her to the USDA - not because her ethnicity but because of her qualifications. No one questioned her credentials (and the BOR was happy with her) when she was Vice Chancellor, ESPECIALLY since she managed to turn the College of Agriculture (the "A" in A&M) around and up in the rankings under HER LEADERSHIP! You don't accomplish that as a TOKEN. No woman, and certainly no minority woman gets this far, earn a reputation as a researcher AND administrator, without a lot of hard work. So please stop with the misogynistic and racist rhetoric. It is old and unworthy of Aggies to make such incredibly neanderthalish comments. Return your ring Pade Allen '61. You don't deserve to wear it.
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Posted by:
NOTAGAIN On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 6:12 PM
Comment Title: Shame, Shame, Shame !
It's time to release this matter into the national scope media. Prime Time, 20/20, etc... They should fully expose this story and all the players involved here. Just then, the whole world would know what Texas A&M is all about !
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Posted by:
John On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 5:31 PM
Comment Title: Paden Quncy Allen '61 UNFAITHFUL AGGIE
UNFAITHFUL AGGIE. WEAR RED YOU LOSER!
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Posted by:
Paden Quncy Allen 61' On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 5:21 PM
Comment Title: Thank god a proud white person and not another minority or liberal
Finally this lady is gone. She is nothing more than an Affirmative Action poster child. Next time any minority is reviewed for this job... maybe we should give preference to white males. So glad for this university. God Bless Rick Perry and the BOR!
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Posted by:
concerned_reader On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 5:01 PM
Comment Title:
I hope our state legislators would look into who did gain, or would have gained financially from the actions of the Board of Regents and Chancellor McKinney with regard to using University funds to purchase one or more pharmaceutical companies. Did the Board of Regents or Chancellor McKinney, or their friends profit personally, would they have profited personally, or is this just a situation of jobs for the boys? Normally, we would assume the best. I don't think voters, and those paying taxes and tuition should make any assumptions - we need facts.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 5:01 PM
Comment Title: This is what happens
The TAMU President resigns. Both Bryan and College Station Police Chiefs are either resigning or will have to. This is what happens when you push "diversity" and affirmitive action instead of letting the most qualified person have the job. A&M was overly proud of themselves for having it's first Latina President instead of looking out for what was best for the University. Sort of like whats happening at the supreme court.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 4:01 PM
Comment Title:
As a former student who ahppens to be a middle age white male, I am appalled at the bigotry displayed by some of the posters here. I can only hope they are just some idiots who are intentially trying to make us look even worse. I was not a fan of Dr. Murano and the way she was hired. However, I felt like she should have been given a chance once she was hired. This clearly did not happen. I for one would now like to see many more resignations but these should be in the Systems office and from the Board of Regents. It is time to dismantle the Perry Mafia and let Texas A&M return to its days of excellence and growth!
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Posted by:
Armadillo On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 3:36 PM
Comment Title:
I am surprised at the number of racist comments. Shame on you! In the late 1960s the University of Texas was poised to join the ranks of the finest state universities in the nation in terms of academic quality. But then a chairman of the Board of Regents, Frank Erwin, Jr., decided he should run the university with the help of his political hack friends. As a result, the university has never achieved the greatness that was within its grasp. Sadly, history repeats itself at Texas A&M University.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 12:01 PM
Comment Title: Saddened
As a student I thought she was great...it seemed as though she was implementing changes for the better.
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Posted by:
anonymous On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 11:09 AM
Comment Title: shock
I as everybody else should be outrages as to how the whole thing was handled from the very beginning. this is not a black mark on dr. murano it is a black mark on TAMU as a whole. mckinney and perry may be gloating and feeling pretty good right now...but beware goobers things have a way of coming back and biting you in the but.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 10:56 AM
Comment Title: Not good
Murano may not have been qualified and that could've been the reason for mistakes. But what Mckinney (and I think Perry) is doing is intentionally underhanded and dishonest. The two of them are destroying MY university.
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Posted by:
Veronica On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 10:54 AM
Comment Title: What about McKinney's review
We all know about the unprofessional review (handwritten) by Chancellor McKinney, but what about his performance review. Seems to me that we should be able to view his review and comments.
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Posted by:
Loser Police On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 10:42 AM
Comment Title:
Ding, dong, the witch is dead...
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Posted by:
KathAnn On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 10:18 AM
Comment Title: Controversy Has Been Brewing
Today's decisions by the Board of Regents will show which they believe is more important -- any obligation they feel to the man who appointed them or their responsibility to the constitutents of the State of Texas and of Texas A&M University. If it's the former, then the State Legislature needs to plan an overhaul of how Regents are appointed. Which begs the question, why don't our state representatives already have the authority to approve political appointees who have decision-making authority over a multi-million dollar system affecting tens of thousands of state citizens?
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Posted by:
tab On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 10:11 AM
Comment Title: See ya!
Don't let the door hit you on the ***! Now let's have some fairness to all...including the white population which is now a minority!
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 9:53 AM
Comment Title: Newest Aggie joke McKinney/Perry
Burnt Orange and White is looking better than it ever did to this maroon blooded body.
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Posted by:
Chris On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 9:49 AM
Comment Title:
I'm not sad to see her go, but I do think the way the situation went down is unacceptable. Its very true that Dr. Murano missed the point of shared governance, failing to consult with students and faculty on important issue, firing top administrators like Dr. Bresciani and Ms. Redman, and just in general, not inspiring confidence or a sense of leadership amongst many. Thats why I'm not sad to see her go. however, Dr. McKinney airing his issues with her to the media was a disgrace- while we're making changes at the top, he needs to be shown the door.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 9:45 AM
Comment Title:
See the comments from Paul Burka, senior executive editor of Texas Monthly, and the op-ed piece from Jon Hagler, class of '58 this morning.... http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 9:43 AM
Comment Title: set up for failure
The comments of Bill Flores tell the tale. I'm sorry that Murano was put in this position. I'm sorry for the way this reflects on Texas and TAMU. Rick Perry-- pffft!
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Posted by:
Jamie@CS On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 9:37 AM
Comment Title: Great day
I'm glad she quit end of story.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 9:29 AM
Comment Title:
Aggies everywhere should call for the resignation of Chancellor McKinney and dialog with the Board of Regents to change their high-handed disregard for faculty and A&M administrator opinion. I hope that the Regents were just misled by McKinney in this instance and in the other mistakes they have made over the last 18 months. If not, they should all go too. We need to start afresh and make it evident to the rest of the State and Nation that Texas A&M is not a back-woods University run by politicos or we will never fulfill the potential of this University........
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 15, 2009 8:56 AM
Comment Title:
The only way forward for this great university is the dismissal of Chancellor McKinney and a rethinking by the Regents of what the university is about. Short of that, chaos lies ahead.
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