Save the Cactus Cafe.org - A campaign of Friends of the Cactus Cafe

KUT can make a “full save” of the Cactus Cafe by hiring Griff Luneburg

Save the Cactus Cafe — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:08:57 +0000

In February 2010, a day after the Texas Union announced plans to close the Cactus Cafe, I started a Facebook Group called “Save The Cactus Cafe (Austin, TX).” That group’s membership soon grew to 25,000. A separate Facebook “Fan Page” now has 9,000 followers. And in the seven months since that announcement, thousands more have committed their time, money, and have written to UT administrators in support of saving the Cactus Cafe.

Student affairs posts Cactus Cafe/KUT FAQ

Save the Cactus Cafe — Wed, 19 May 2010 19:11:53 +0000

Just posted on the UT office for Student Affairs “Cactus Comments” blog:

“KUT and the Cactus Cafe FAQ”

UT announces Cactus Cafe / KUT partnership

Save the Cactus Cafe — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:42:28 +0000

From the UT Press Office:

Cactus Cafe Partnership with KUT Radio Announced

Friends of Cactus Cafe Announces Pledge Drive Success

Save the Cactus Cafe — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:22:05 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Reid Nelson
Email: pr@SaveTheCactusCafe.org
Website: http://www.SaveTheCactusCafe.org

Friends of Cactus Cafe Announces Pledge Drive Success

In one week, effort garners pledges of over $32,000 for first year and commitments for $98,000 over the next five years.

Austin, Texas, May 19, 2010 – Friends of the Cactus Cafe (FOTCC) today announced the results of the first week of its pledge drive to garner support for its business plan to preserve the fundamental character of the legendary venue by building on its current self-operating model, while adding programs for and programming by students. The announcement comes as UT Vice-president for Student Affairs, Juan González, is about to make a recommendation regarding the future of the music venue later today.

Pledge drive report: Success, but…

Save the Cactus Cafe — Sat, 15 May 2010 04:51:47 +0000

We want to let you know about the great success we have had to date for our pledge drive to support both the Cactus Cafe and the plan that will save it in a manner that preserves its fundamental character.

(VIDEO) Jackopierce supports the Cactus

Save the Cactus Cafe — Fri, 14 May 2010 06:07:41 +0000

Jack O’Neill and Cary Pierce (Jackopierce) show their support for the Cactus Cafe in this video. You don’t pay anything now by pledging your support now: your pledge is only payable if and when UT supports a Cactus that is operated in a manner consistent with the “Guiding Concepts.” Please pledge now at http://fotcc.org/pledge .

AusChron: UT urged to consider “Win” for Cactus; González terse in interview

Save the Cactus Cafe — Fri, 14 May 2010 00:58:21 +0000

This week’s Austin Chronicle features “UT Urged to Consider ‘Win’ for Cactus”, by Richard Whittaker.

Daily Texan column: Future Cactus Management — Not a difficult choice for me

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:38:21 +0000

Matt Portillo is a UT Student Government representative and a Junior working toward degrees in Music and Rhetoric & Writing. His guest column from today’s issue of The Daily Texan is “Future Cactus Management — Not a difficult choice for me”.

Artists petition Student Affairs and KUT for the Cactus Cafe

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:15:38 +0000

The artists in the long list below sent this letter to UT Vice President for Student Affairs Juan González and KUT General Manager Stewart Vanderwilt.

Last chance to pledge support?

Save the Cactus Cafe — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:58:24 +0000

We expect the UT administration to make their decision very soon on the future of the Cactus Cafe. As you may know, we have proposed a business model and plan for the Cactus that preserves its fundamental character while greatly expanding opportunities for students — one that builds on the current operating model with current management.

You can show your support for this plan and for the Cactus Cafe by making a pledge now, but you need to hurry because time is running out.

SFOTCC: Clear student support of the Cactus Cafe

Save the Cactus Cafe — Wed, 12 May 2010 01:16:09 +0000

In “Evidence of Student Support for the Cactus Cafe” from the blog of Student Friends of the Cactus Cafe, Hayley Gillespie shares the input that she provided to the VP of Student Affairs that demonstrates clear student support of the Cactus Cafe.

Faculty Council resolution supports the Cactus Cafe

Save the Cactus Cafe — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:12:42 +0000

On Monday the UT Faculty Council passed its resolution D 8003, “In Support of the Cactus Cafe”:

Press Release: Friends of the Cactus Cafe launches pledge drive

Save the Cactus Cafe — Mon, 10 May 2010 22:07:59 +0000

Pledge for the Next Chapter Cactus Cafe

Save the Cactus Cafe — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:46:41 +0000

Last Friday Friends of the Cactus Cafe along with Student Friends of the Cactus Cafe submitted a 25-page business plan to UT Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Juan González, who will decide the future of Cactus Cafe sometime this week. The plan meets all of the goals in the Guiding Concepts set forth by the UT administration. You can show your support for it by pledging to make a contribution in the future.

http://www.savethecactuscafe.org/pledge

Guiding Concepts for the Cactus Cafe

Save the Cactus Cafe — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:39:56 +0000

These six “Guiding Concepts” were developed and agreed on by the Cactus Cafe Conversations Group, which invested three weeks in developing goals for the Cactus moving forward that students, faculty, administration and the community could all agree on.

“Cactus Cafe: The Next Chapter” submitted to VP for Student Affairs

Save the Cactus Cafe — Sat, 08 May 2010 16:13:14 +0000

On Friday Friends of the Cactus Cafe board member Reid Nelson submitted a 25-page proposal to VP for Student Affairs Juan González that details a “unified self-operating model” for the “Next Chapter of the Cactus Cafe.” Nelson’s cover email, a subsequent press release and the 25-page document are below.

VP González: “Thank You”

Save the Cactus Cafe — Sat, 08 May 2010 05:31:06 +0000

In the UT Student Affairs “Cactus Comments” blog, VP Juan González offers his thanks for your input.

LAST DAY to send Cactus Comments; Dr. Garza sent his, have you?

Save the Cactus Cafe — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:32:08 +0000

Today is the last day that UT VP for Student Affairs Juan González will accept “written feedback and creative ideas from the Board, student groups and community members”, after which he “will review all submitted materials and make a final decision promptly thereafter.”

Last chance to comment on Cactus Cafe before May 7 deadline

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:04:33 +0000

We just sent this email to our email list, urging all Cactus Cafe fans to write VP for Student Affairs Juan González and UT President William Powers before Friday’s deadline:

Student affairs blog finally posts support of self-operating option

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:26:58 +0000

Although the vague, incomplete and misnamed “KUT plan” (actually the “SEC bifurcated plan”) appeared on the “Cactus Comments” blog almost two weeks ago, it took over a week after submission before the Student Friends of the Cactus Cafe’s “Support for the Self-Operating Cactus Option” was published there. The blog, managed by the Office of Student affairs, shows a false dateline on the blog entry, which was actually published only yesterday, May 5.

Please support these students, whose efforts are aligned with the undergraduate and graduate student government and the many councils by adding your comments of support there.

If you left comments on the UT blog and don’t see them there immediately, please post them here, too.

AusChron: More Cactus Thorns; González unilaterally drops prerequisites

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:04:28 +0000

This week’s Austin Chronicle features “More Cactus Thorns: Cafe decision still hanging”, which identifies the following critically important issue:

Check out our channel on YouTube

Save the Cactus Cafe — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:18:41 +0000

You've seen our “Artists say…” pages, but did you know that you can watch just the videos all at once? Select the YouTube icon at the top right of our “Artists say…” pages or go directly to youtube.com/user/SaveTheCactusCafe and create your own playlist using your YouTube (Google) account.

Daily Texan: Manager tells Cactus Cafe’s story

Save the Cactus Cafe — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:29:06 +0000

The front page of today’s Daily Texan features “Manager tells Cactus Cafe’s story” about Cactus Cafe manager Griff Luneburg.

Artists Guy Forsyth, Todd Snider, Melissa Ferrick and Nathan Hamilton say...

Save the Cactus Cafe — Sun, 02 May 2010 22:11:37 +0000

Guy Forsyth, Todd Snider, Melissa Ferrick and Nathan Hamilton share their words of support for the Cactus Cafe on our “Artists say…” pages.

González’ formal “Statement to the Union Board”

Save the Cactus Cafe — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:29:19 +0000

The UT office of the VP for Student Affairs has published in their “Cactus Comments” blog the statement read by Soncia Reagins-Lilly to the University Unions Board of Directors at their meeting on Friday.

Statement to the Union Board

AusChron: Rush to judgment on the Cactus that “lives on”?

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:13:14 +0000

One of the two articles in this week’s Cactus Cafe coverage in the Austin Chronicle, “Rush to Judgment on Cactus?”, quotes Student Friend Zachary Bidner, whose “biggest worry is that the final decision will be rushed through and approved by UT President Bill Powers with a veneer of consultation. [Bidner] said, ‘If [Powers] is going back to the students, which students is he talking to?’”

The other article, “Forsaking the Song, Part 9”, quotes Vice President for Student Affairs, Juan (Dr. “J”) González, who said “The Cactus Cafe lives on! … The hottest, most sought-after tickets in town ought to be the Cactus Cafe.” The article then cautions, “Hold your applause.”

Shannon McNally, Robbie Fulks and Victoria Williams speak up

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:03:24 +0000

Read and listen to what Shannon McNally, Robbie Fulks and Victoria Williams are saying about the Cactus Cafe on our “More artists say…” page.

Save the Cactus Cafe.org is also on Facebook

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:57:31 +0000

Did you know that we’re also on Facebook?

www.facebook.com/SaveTheCactusCafe

Follow @SaveTheCactus on Twitter

Save the Cactus Cafe — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:41:17 +0000

Did you know that we’re also on Twitter? Follow @SaveTheCactus.

Please attend Union board meeting on Friday

Save the Cactus Cafe — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:16:28 +0000

The University of Texas University Unions Board of Directors will hold its last regularly scheduled meeting of the academic year on Friday, April 30, at 3:00 p.m., and Student Friends of the Cactus Cafe (SFOTCC) ask all concerned parties to attend, but especially if you are a currently enrolled UT student.

The agenda includes Cactus Cafe updates, to be presented by Soncia Reagins-Lilly, who has the dual title of Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.

Statesman blotter: Cactus Cafe comment time extended to May 7

Save the Cactus Cafe — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 04:02:08 +0000

In an online blotter article, the Austin American-Statesman reports that UT Austin VP for Student Affairs Juan González suffered a death in his family and so will not be able to attend Friday’s Texas Union board meeting. He has extended the deadline for comments on the Cactus Cafe by one week, to May 7.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. González and his family.

Support from Governor’s Texas Music Office

Save the Cactus Cafe — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:27:47 +0000

We learned of this letter today:

AusChron blog: And Then There Were Two

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:51:15 +0000

Austin-based CPA Joe Sherfy expresses incredulity at the poor quality of the financial figures provided by UT.

In the Austin Chronicle blog article “And Then There Were Two”, Richard Whittaker reviews yesterday’s open forum held by University of Texas at Austin Vice President of Student Affairs, Juan González.

KVUE: Cactus Cafe supporters form human chain

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:46:15 +0000

From KVUE.com: “Cactus Cafe supporters form human chain”

Help Form “Human Chain of Petitions Around the Cactus Cafe” at UT Student Union

Save the Cactus Cafe — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:46:33 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: David Kobierowski 512.413.0286, <grassroots@savethecactuscafe.org>

Help Form “Human Chain of Petitions Around the Cactus Cafe” at UT Student Union

April 20, 2010 - Austin, TX Friends of the Cactus Cafe www.savethecactuscafe.org

“Money talks” but “NO money shouts!”

Save the Cactus Cafe — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:20:54 +0000

We sent this email on Tuesday from UT Alum Tomoko Ikeda to several thousand of our supporters.

Dear fellow Cactus Cafe fan,

As a long-time fan of the Cactus Cafe, I want to thank you for supporting the efforts to save the historic and iconic venue. The battle is far from over, but we’ve accomplished a lot since the Friday night massacre of January 29, when the University announced its decision to close the Cactus Cafe.

Statesman: People aren’t buying UT’s “efforts”

Save the Cactus Cafe — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:33:13 +0000

This blog post by Statesman Special Reporter Ralph K.M.

CPA: This is not about the Cactus Cafe losing money

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:35:29 +0000

The 2008-2009 income of the Cactus Cafe was a record high of $548,535, according to this article by Richard Whittaker in this week’s Austin Chronicle. Certified Public Account Chris Yost says, “This is not about the Cactus Cafe losing money.”

UT Vice Provost: Faculty Council chair’s action “hypocritical”

Save the Cactus Cafe — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:10:04 +0000

2009-2010 UT Faculty Council

Among issues that were planned for discussion at Monday’s UT Faculty Council meeting was a resolution sponsored by the council’s chair, RTF professor Janet Staiger, “A Resolution in Support of the Cactus Cafe.”

Why is KUT helping to kill the Cactus Cafe?

Save the Cactus Cafe — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:35:52 +0000

Late last week KUT and the University Unions released a joint plan that will essentially make the Cactus Cafe a division of KUT for at least part of the year. While there is much to be said for a working relationship between KUT and the Cactus Cafe, this is definitely not the model to achieve such a collaboration.

Student Friends: UT misguided about Cactus Cafe

Save the Cactus Cafe — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:26:58 +0000

The Daily Texan published this op-ed letter from current UT student and co-founder of Student Friends of the Cactus Cafe, Hayley Gillespie:

“UT misguided about Cactus Cafe”

Please add your comments to the Texas Union blog in support of Hayley and Student Friends of the Cactus Cafe.

AusChron: Parsing the Cactus Proposals

Save the Cactus Cafe — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:17:15 +0000

In “Parsing the Cactus Proposals” from the Austin Chronicle “Earache!” blog, Richard Whittaker analyzes UT’s three proposals and raises these points, among many others:

Download “Jesus Christ Don’t Let the Cactus Fall”

Save the Cactus Cafe — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 04:13:10 +0000

A few weeks ago we mentioned Chip Taylor’s CD that includes his song “Jesus Christ Don’t Let the Cactus Fall”. By special arrangement, you can now purchase a download of the entire CD from our newly revamped website. Go to SaveTheCactusCafe.org and select the “Buy” menu item.

UT Prof: Pride a driving factor

Save the Cactus Cafe — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:43:43 +0000

Integrative Biology professor David Hillis (Wikipedia article ) is the Alfred W. Roark Centennial Professor of Biology at UT and a current member and former chair of the Faculty Council. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences , a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a MacArthur Foundation Fellow. Here’s a link to a letter he wrote to The Daily Texan about recent events surrounding the Cactus Cafe:

“ Pride is driving factor in Cactus decision”

Austin Chronicle: Forsaking the Song, Part 7

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:58:00 +0000

The sub-section “Forsaking the Song, Part 7” in the “Off the Record” music news column of this week’s Austin Chronicle summarizes the past week’s events surrounding the future of the Cactus Cafe.

There’s a bit more in the sub-section “Cactus: The Pricks Keep Coming” in the Austin Chronicle’s “Naked City” column.

VP of Student Affairs: New Cactus Cafe Options Considered

Save the Cactus Cafe — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:20:00 +0000

This is from the official UT “Cactus Cafe” blog, presumably under the authority of Vice President for Student Affairs, Juan González:

“New Cactus Cafe Options Considered”

Trailer from “University Inc.” (Free screening Tuesday)

Save the Cactus Cafe — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 23:53:00 +0000

Here’s a trailer from the film University Inc. There’s a free screening at UT on Tuesday evening and the public is invited.

A better way forward

Save the Cactus Cafe — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:32:00 +0000

Non-profit rep cites issues with third-party vendors, loss of student employment opportunities and risk of losing venue’s character.

Friends of the Cactus Cafe board member Reid Nelson announced today that he was withdrawing from discussions with the University of Texas Office of Student Affairs regarding future plans for the legendary music venue.

In his letter to Vice-president of Student Affairs, Dr. Juan González and Dean of Students, Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly, Nelson cited issues with models being discussed that involve third party vendors in Cactus Cafe operations, and the potential loss of student employment opportunities and continuation of daily cafe and bar operations under such models, as well as how such third-party involvement might affect the fundamental character of the venue. Additional concerns involved the lack of consideration in the discussions of continuing the current model and retaining the current staff.

UT President Powers: “I’m going to back our students on this”

Save the Cactus Cafe — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 02:42:00 +0000

In this videotaped interview published by The Acalde (the publication of the Texas Exes alumni organization), University of Texas President William Powers, Jr. addresses alumni in Midland, Texas about several issues. This was on Texas Independence Day, March 2, 2010, and he mentions what “our students want” regarding the Cactus Cafe. While he doesn't elaborate on specifically which students he’s referring to, it’s clear that he’s unaware of the clear message delivered three weeks prior by the graduate student assembly, or the clearer message delivered four weeks later by the undergraduate student assembly.

Powers’ comments about the Cactus Cafe start at 4m30s in the video:

Kat Edmonson: Decision to close the Cactus Cafe “More than dumb”

Save the Cactus Cafe — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:56:00 +0000

This is from “Kat Edmons

Older stories on old website

Save the Cactus Cafe — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Sorry, but we haven’t moved the entire news archive from the old site yet. You can still find the old posts on the old site, now at this web address:

http://www1.SaveTheCactusCafe.org/news.html

Thanks for your patience as we migrate over to the new site.