UT prefers Football to Education
I was disappointed when I stumbled into the article “UT Dumps National Merit Program” by Gary Scharrer that reports that my alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin will “stop giving scholarships to some of their best and brightest students” due to “economic pressures.”
The program costs the university about $4.4 million a year and honors about $13,000 per student who maintain at least a 3.25 GPA.
Democratic Candidate, Tom Schieffer, has issued the following statement regarding this matter:
“At a time when Texas should be competing for the best and the brightest, today’s announcement that the University of Texas at Austin will no longer participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program is a strong indictment of Governor Rick Perry’s policy of starving higher education.
Right now, UT is second only to Harvard in the number of merit scholars on campus. We should want that number to go up, not down. Officials at UT cite budgetary pressure as the cause for withdrawal from the program. This is what you get when you refuse to invest in higher education.
If we are going to lead the nation, we need our smartest students to stay in Texas and get an education that will allow them to compete with anyone in the world. That won’t happen if we throw away the welcome mat for National Merit scholars. Governor Perry should be ashamed that it has come to this.”
I completely agree with Schieffer and I will go on to blame the University of Texas for failing to commit to their mission statement and core values.
“Some people mistakenly feel that this is a signal that UT-Austin is no longer interested in recruiting high-achieving students. That’s not the case,” said Thomas Melecki, director of student financial services for the university.
Unfortunately, Mr. Melecki … that is the “signal” that the university is sending. When less than a month ago, August 5, 2009 to be exact, Alan Trubow of the Austin American-Statesman reports that Mack Brown, Head Football Coach for the Longhorns, will make at least $5.1 million this season … the message becomes mixed.
How do you justify a football coach earning $5.1 million when programs that are needed and used by current and future students are being phased out due to financial issues?
This is the same University that fought hard and lobbied Governor Rick Perry to deregulate college tuition. Now, you cannot afford to give students who deserve the scholarships access to aid so they can attend the university?
You have your priorities wrong when Mack Brown makes more money than 28 of the 32 NFL Football Head Coaches … ergo just 4 NFL coaches are paid more money than him.
Memo to UT President William Powers … the University of Texas is an “education” facility … not a football cash cow.
P.S. This is not an attack of the University of Texas Football program … I am an avid fan of the Longhorns and had the honor to be a student during the 2005 Championship season. Hook’em!