Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2010 > February > 02 > Entry
Powers defends decision to close the Cactus Cafe at town hall meeting
(Pictured: Guy Forsyth. Laura Skelding AMERICAN-STATESMAN)
- Photos: UT town hall meeting
Those hoping for a resolution to the ongoing struggle over the Cactus Cafe at Tuesday night’s town hall meeting went home empty-handed, as University of Texas President William Powers Jr. defended the decision by the Texas Union Board, announced last Friday evening, to shutter the longstanding venue in response to cuts to the state-funded portion of UT’s two-year budget. Of the $122,000 saved by cutting the Informal Classes and the Cactus Cafe, executive director of University unions Andy Smith Jr. said that the Cactus’ share was $66,000.
Powers expressed understanding for the board’s decision, noting their desire to both save money and reconfigure the Cactus Cafe into “something more responsive to the needs of students,” and declined to take any decisive action on the issue, leaving those opposed to the closure to engage with the Texas Union Board.
“The Texas Union is an entity that is supported by student funds and they need to have a great say in how this is used,” Powers said at the meeting. “My general sense is to support the structure that made that decision.”
That explanation seemed inadequate to the initially standing-room-only crowd — which dwindled as the meeting wore on, with Powers electing to extend the session to 6:15 p.m., to accommodate the long line of speakers. Of the many speakers choosing to address Powers, most focused on the closure of the Cactus Cafe, including opening speaker Elliott Naishtat, the Texas House of Representatives member representing District 49 — which includes the UT campus.
“I would say we’ve been inundated with calls and e-mails about this. Austin, the state and the University have always enjoyed a symbiotic relationship. Each would be less of what they are without each other,” said Naishtat. “How can we help. What can we do to save these iconic programs?”
Many speakers took a similarly constructive line, suggesting ways to bolster the Cactus Cafe’s finances and offering to raise the money necessary to make the listening room viable.
“We’d like to extend a collective hand to you,” said Reid Nelson, attorney, political consultant and admin for the 15,000-strong “Save the Cactus Cafe (Austin, Texas)” Facebook group. “If this is a matter of money, we can raise the money to save the Cactus Cafe.”
Local musicians turned out in support of the venue, including Guy Forsyth, and several students expressed displeasure at the decision. Graduate student Hayley Gillespie passed out fliers containing the contact information of the University of Texas Board of Regents, as well as the members of the Texas Union Board. Gillespie was one of several students expressing frustration at feeling shut out of the decision-making process that led to the Cactus decision.
“The student body had no idea that the Texas Union Board was meeting or that this would be on the agenda,” said Gillespie. “We had absolutely no warning that this type of decision was even going to take place.”
While expressing sympathy for detractors’ arguments — and acknowledging the Cactus Cafe’s cultural contributions — Powers frequently reiterated his support of the board’s decision and referred to to the Texas Exes’ offer to move the venue as one possible step forward. Powers also regularly expressed a desire to make budgetary cuts in a manner that kept UT focused on its core missions of learning and research.
Comments
Austinites love to be heard, and we're giving you a bullhorn. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion. If you can't be nice, we reserve the right to remove your material and ban users who violate our Visitor's agreement. Click here to report comment abuse.
By Duder
February 3, 2010 7:29 AM | Link to this
Another one bites the dust. Money, ain’t it strange how we are all consumed by it.
By austinmodhouse
February 3, 2010 8:46 AM | Link to this
the most convincing argument is from that of the students as voiced by Hayley Gillespie. it is really their student union. it is most upsetting that such a decision was made without consideration to inform those who they are supposed to represent. I have no doubt that the students who do make use of the cactus are less in numbers than those who attend the football games. but that shouldn’t void their vote or opinions. cactus cafe really is a small space and 66k isn’t that much in the grand scheme. this seems to be one more swipe at eliminating things cultural that benefit the minority who have not been given a voice. shame on you student union board.
By Chuck Mac
February 3, 2010 12:58 PM | Link to this
Point 1: A savings of $122,000 is insignificant to UT’s budget.
Point 2: Why not charge $5 more for Informal Classes, and the same for Cactus Cafe tickets. I’d pay it. That would probably bring in more than the $122,000.