[Asualumni] Angelo State Realignment under the Texas TechUniversity System

[Blaine Brunson]

Best Quote of the Day on this topic (playing on Angelo's wool industry and Lubbock's cotton industry):

Senator Robert Duncan-  ASU and Tech are like cotton and wool...We think this cotton and wool blend will be the strength of West Texas. 



----- Original Message -----
From: asualumni-bounces at angelo.edu <asualumni-bounces at angelo.edu>
To: alumni at angelo.edu <alumni at angelo.edu>; asualumni at angelo.edu <asualumni at angelo.edu>
Sent: Sat Mar 10 10:46:34 2007
Subject: Re: [Asualumni] Angelo State Realignment under the Texas TechUniversity System

  
Dear Vice President Norris:
 
I read with interest the materials provided in your message about the proposed realignment and, because I am an out of state alumnus, I very much appreciate being included on the Alumni Association's mailing list.  However, I must say that I don't fully understand the reasoning behind the TTU realignment proposal.  Moreover, I'm not convinced that the advantages that are described on the Coalition's web page wouldn't also accrue under the Texas State University System or other university system in Texas.  
 
Having been a strong supporter for retention of the ASU name during the most recent attempt to change it, it seems to me the Coalition's most appealing argument is that ASU would be able to retain its name.  However, because ASU already has "State" as part of its name, a de facto identity with a "state" university as opposed to a "tech" university already exists.  So, protecting the current name may be neither reasonable nor logical if ASU becomes part of the Texas Tech University system.  Wouldn't the expectation be that any university in the TTU system would somehow have Tech in its name?
 
As for almost all the supporting arguments which are offered on the site, including those that are repeated in the Commissioners Court resolution, none of them stand out as only being possible under the TTU system.  That is, whether true or not, virtually all of the possible benefits as currently described strike me as being equally possible under any of the university systems in Texas.
 
Although one wouldn't necessarily expect to see opposing arguments on a "supporting" web site, what is missing for me is a comprehensive view of the alternatives, including the pros and cons for each.  If a move under the TTU system would be the best for ASU, the arguments in support ought to stand out as unique to TTU and clearly advantageous to ASU.  I have no doubt the motives behind the supporting position are pure but offering only one side of the story ultimately seems to weaken it.  Incidentally, I may have missed an earlier message or two from the Association about this proposed change but I'm wondering if input from the Association was solicited before the Board took its vote?  
 
My first reaction is to ask, if a realignment is necessary, what makes moving under TTU the best choice?  
 
Very Respectfully,
 
Bill Kirk (MPA, 1980)
Acting Chief
Research and Evaluation Bureau
California Department of Social Services       




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