Posted on 01/26/2007 9:06:30 AM PST by TexasCajun
Perry orders regents to fix TSU finances
'Not happy' with the officials, governor gives them up to 45 days to plan
AUSTIN — Startled by the depth of Texas Southern University's multimillion-dollar financial woes, Gov. Rick Perry has ordered its board of regents to start making "tough decisions" to fix the problems or resign.
"It can't be a Mickey Mouse deal," Perry spokesman Robert Black told the Houston Chronicle on Thursday. "It can't be a Band-Aid."
In private meetings last week, Perry demanded that TSU's regents come up with a concrete plan within 30-45 days to start fixing problems plaguing the university's finances this year.
Next week, the terms of three of TSU's nine regents expire, giving Perry the opportunity to name new members.
Perry also plans to announce a blue-ribbon panel that will develop a long-term plan for TSU, including defining its academic mission.
One fear, which the governor's office said it hopes to avoid, is that TSU would be merged into another university.
Houston Democrats Sen. Rodney Ellis and Rep. Garnet Coleman underscored the importance of protecting the historically black university and keeping it independent. They noted its long history in shaping Houston's black middle class.
"TSU is in the neighborhood where I grew up. It isn't just an institution I represent," Coleman said. "It's more than that. TSU represents some of the best of black Texas and black Houston."
Ellis said he is a graduate of the university, along with political notables including the late U.S. Reps. Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland and lawyer and former U.S. Congressman Craig Washington.
Ellis, complaining that Texas' two historically black universities have been underfunded since their inception, said he hopes Perry's actions will prove positive for TSU.
"I'm glad he's stepping up to the plate," he said. "Let's hope he's correcting that historical wrong."
Yet, with TSU asking the Legislature for millions in emergency funds and financial help while its money matters are "in shambles," Black said, lawmakers are apt to lose patience.
"It can't be the same old, same old. They're going to have to make the hard decisions to correct these issues," he said.
Troubling report
The governor's action follows a report, prepared by TSU's interim chief financial officer, Carin Barth, outlining overspending, missing purchase orders and poor financial projections.
Problems include flooded basements in several buildings and an athletic program $2 million over budget this year, the report said.
Barth also noted inadequate fees or occupancy rates to pay the debt service for new dormitories, a shuttle system and parking lots.
"I think the governor was surprised by the breadth and depth of — once you peel back the onion — how much trouble this institution is in," Black said.
"That's why he was very frank with the regents. They are his regents. He was not happy with them," he continued.
The regents fired once-popular President Priscilla Slade in June on the grounds that she misspent $286,000 of the school's money to furnish and landscape her house. Slade and three former aides face criminal charges.
Coleman, in particular, said he has traced most of the financial problems cited by the governor to Slade's tenure.
Campus leaders are seeking an emergency appropriation of roughly $25 million, mostly for repairs to neglected buildings.
There is water in the basement of three buildings and the 4-year-old recreation center is structurally flawed, with visible cracks in the floor and pool because of rising soil.
"I don't blame him," Regent David Diaz said of Perry's mandate. "I'm not happy either. Nobody is happy."
"We agree with the governor that systemic problems at TSU must be fixed," Regent Earnest Gibson III said.
Pushing for state funding
Regent Bill King said the university can save money through better accounting practices and monitoring of cost overruns. But that will not be enough to close the projected shortfall, he said.
"In the short term, we're going to need more funding from the Legislature," King said.
Without the extra help, campus leaders may face tough choices, such as whether to cut some programs. Diaz and King said the money-losing athletics department should be looked at closely. The department spent $6.2 million last year, about $2 million over budget, which is heavily subsidized by student fees.
"It's an onerous financial burden," King said.
The governor's office made it clear to regents that there are several options for TSU's future, starting with a viable, autonomous institution. The possibilities include placing it under another university system.
"I don't think anyone, including the governor, wants to see anything but option No. 1 as our fate," Regent Belinda Griffin said.
"We've got a lot of work to do, and we've got to do it in a short amount of time."
Mixed reactions
The news drew mixed responses from students who welcomed the greater oversight but feared the historically black university could lose its independence.
"That's really going to change the makeup of TSU. Any decision like this should come from inside and not from outside the campus," said Ernest Orieh, 26, a senior management major.
Herman Coachman, 22, and another student, Delvin Sanders, 23, both said mismanagement has been a problem.
"What are they doing with all the money they're getting?" Coachman asked.
Sanders said: "Things are still shaky. ... You can tell something is not up to par."
How pathetic. This place should have been dismantled years ago. If they want to keep their little racist paradise, then fund it privately.
Best way to fix TSU's problems is to drown them in money. When University idiot's receive more money the problems they have grow exponentially larger until the fire burns itself out.
...like a bad version of the movie 'Groundhog Day'.
The University President would then lease an even larger mansion in affluent River Oaks with larger pool, more expensive furnishing and more elaborate landscaping.
Oh, almost forget more expensive wardrobe.
Translation: "Yo, Perry, you cracker, the TSU board of regents are blameless because of the color of their skin regardless of the content of their character."
The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be ashamed of these TSU clowns.
I believe this is the same university whose band ransacked a computer store while on a to Japan. I believe that about half the band members were found not to be students also.
All that does not matter so much as the lack of student enrollment due to poor credentials upon graduating. I for one would be embarrased to say I attended TSU, and would probably not put it on a resume.
My give-a-damn broke on that sentence.
They should flat out close that university. It's nothing but a corrupt diploma mill.
Why do blacks get their own universities, anyway? If any other race tried that, they'd get blasted by the media.
One of the TSU spokespeople had the gall to say on our TV news today that TSU is the "only nationally known university in Texas"!!!
He didn't say "black" - he said "university" and went on to say they are known internationally, too, and "you can't say that about any other university in Texas."
These people are nutz!
That going to make someone spill their tea.
LOL, if the sip fits.
Perry makes Mark White look smart.
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