April 23, 2014

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Fellow Alumni: As former UT Student Body Presidents, we know firsthand the importance of a healthy working relationship with the Board of Regents. We have watched new buildings and new programs built, worked together on tuition and financial aid, and educated the campus community on important campus referenda. Weve worked with the Regents at the Legislature and have been a united voice advocating for students, faculty and staff. However, recent allegations about Regent Wallace Hall raise deep concerns over the integrity of this relationship going forward. Two weeks ago, The University of Texas at Austin enjoyed one of the greatest honors as it welcomed four U.S. presidents to campus for a serious discussion about civil rights and U.S. history. Unfortunately, the actions of a lone UT Regent, Wallace Hall, overshadowed that achievement, as they have so much else that students and faculty accomplish every day on the Forty Acres. We appreciate the work of the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Government Transparency investigating Regent Wallace Halls actions and their commitment to transparency and good governance. This committee has worked to determine whether Regent Halls behavior warrants impeachment. State lawmakers have investigated allegations that the Dallas businessman buried UT in open records requests, failed to disclose his history of litigation when he applied to be a Regent, violated student privacy laws, and bullied those around him to get his way. Last week, news broke that the committees lawyers had determined that, yes, Halls behavior was not only inappropriate, but grounds for impeachment and possibly even criminal prosecution. The case against Hall has now been referred to the Travis County District Attorney. UT provided each of us an unparalleled opportunity to learn about leadership and the importance of responsibility in office holding and governing. While many in the state contemplate the best way forward, we urge and firmly request that Regent Hall recognize and acknowledge the damaging impact of his actions and how those actions are eroding a vital trust built by generations of UT Regents and students before him. We call on Regent Wallace Hall to resign as a Regent immediately for the good of The University of Texas and the State of Texas. Unfortunately, we do not believe that Regent Hall will do what is right and resign, so we also call on you to contact all members of the House Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations before Thursday to urge them to take immediate and further action to remove Wallace Hall from his position as a UT Regent. Attached to this e-mail, you will find a complete list of the members and their contact information.

This is not a debate of ideologies on the direction of higher education, nor is it a debate limited to The University of Texas at Austinthis is larger than just The University of Texas at Austin. These issues are about the way in which all of our state institutions and agencies are overseen and governed, ensuring that the integrity of their operations remains intact. It is about the treatment and protection of state employees. And it is about safeguarding the privacy of our students and citizens. Sincerely, Paul Begala (1982-1983) Bob Binder (1971-1972) John Scott Black (1994-1995) Natalie Butler (2011-2012) Andrew Chin (1986-1987) Frank Fleming (1974-1975) Julius Glickman (1963-1964) Matt Hammond (2001-2002) Lloyd Hand (1050-1951) Greg Lipscomb (1964-1965) Annie Holand Miller (1998-1999) John Orr (1965-1966) Keshav Rajagopalan (2008-2009) Daron Roberts (2000-2001) Danielle Rugoff (2006-2007) Marion Sanford (1962-1963) Randi Shade (1987-1988) Marlen Whitley (1997-1998)