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IS UT ADMINISTRATION AGAIN WILLFULLY IGNORING ITS OWN RULES?
The University's Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP) pertaining to the Texas Union is online (thus publicly published and legally binding) at http://www.utexas.edu/policies/hoppm/h0608.html.
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The HOP states: "New faculty member appointments shall become effective on May 1 of each year." [6.08.2.a]
And that: "New student appointments shall become effective on May 1 of each year." [6.08.2.b]
And that: "The Vice-Chairman shall be the President of the Students' Association, and the Secretary and the Union Director shall be elected by the voting members of the Board of Directors." [6.08.3]
Therefore the current Board of Directors is *not* the same one which met April 30, when Soncia Reagins-Lily read a statement to the Board as it was then constituted. At midnight on that day, some Board members' terms expired. If Juan Gonzalez intends to make a recommendation on the fate of the Cactus, it must be to the current Board. Otherwise Dr. Gonzalez will have to show valid cause as to why he intends to deny seating the duly elected new members.
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The HOP further states: "The Board of Directors of the Texas Union shall recommend annually on June 1 through the chief administrative officer of The University of Texas at Austin to the Chancellor and the Board of Regents the appointment of the Union Director. His/her term of service shall extend from September 1 through the following August 31." [6.08.9]
Of course, past recommendations from the Board to fire Andy Smith have been overruled.
And that: "The Union Director shall be a member of all committees without vote. On May 1 annually he/she shall make a complete report to the Board of Directors of the Texas Union covering the activities in the Union Building. The report shall be transmitted through the chief administrative officer of The University of Texas at Austin to the Chancellor, to the members of the Board of Regents, to the Secretary to the Board of Regents and to such other members of the administration as the chief administrative officer of The University of Texas at Austin may direct."
Has Mr. Smith presented this report to the new Board of Directors and all other parties as mandated? In other words, is he doing his job? Surely at his salary of over $138,000 per year, it would be a priority to Mr. Smith to follow the rules.
Recent history suggests otherwise. Despite Mr. Smith's public assertion in the February 26 Board of Directors meeting that the Executive Session he called at the January Board meeting was proper, the HOP states explicitly that:
"The Board of Directors may, at its discretion, authorize any three voting members of the Board to serve as an executive committee acting for the Board of Directors between meetings, but only during the period from May l5th until the first day of registration for the Fall Semester, or during official UT semester break or holiday periods. All actions taken by the Executive Committee are subject to later ratification by the Board of Directors." [6.08.4]