I think it is fine to discuss the Gulf Coast situation -- there are many egregious examples of ways in which this present administration has badly handled the GCC campus and faculty and staff. But please be very careful not to link the issue of what possible solutions there are to the GCC situation with opposition to the administration. Selecting a new President is a big issue -- but ithere is no link at all between the selection of a new President and advocacy for a university center.
Any person with any experience at the coast campus knows that Horace Fleming was its best friend. As soon as SFT came into office he evicerated the coast administration and budget. Don't believe me? Ask the coast leaders who really care about higher education down here like State Rep. Diane Peranch.
The issue is NOT the existence of the gulf coast but coast liner's advocacy of a particular version of the gulf coast (as a "University Center") that I do not think should be linked to this particular President's treatment of the gulf coast. Lots of people support a university presence on the gulf coast -- not everyone supports the idea of a university center.
As Director of the School of Music I did make the decision to pull the plug on the copy machines in the department. Faculty phones have not been disconnected. I did notify the faculty that phone service may have to be discontinued, possibily as early as next week. Copy costs in the School of Music are expensive and I am simply trying to protect the department in order to make it through this budget year. I hope this is temporary.
I have met with Dean Pood and he is doing everything he can to help the department revolve this crisis.