AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Senate announced Tuesday that it will hold hearings into the behavior of the University of Texas’ regents and whether they are meddling too much into President Bill Powers’ private life and management of the school.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst called Tuesday for the hearings. A day earlier, the Legislature delivered a strong message of support for Powers, and Dewhurst accused some of the nine members of the University of Texas System regents of waging “character assassination” of Powers and his family.
Dewhurst has said anonymous letters attacking Powers and his wife have been circulated among the regents but has provided no other details.
Sen. Kel Seliger, an Amarillo Republican and chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, said he didn’t know when the hearings would start. Seliger said regents could be called to testify, and the Senate could subpoena the documents Dewhurst mentioned.
“President Powers appreciates all the support he’s received this week from the lieutenant governor and other lawmakers,” Powers spokesman Gary Susswein said. “The president will cooperate fully with the Legislature as it examines issues related to UT and higher education.”
The regents did not immediately comment Tuesday.
On Monday, the Senate and House passed resolutions praising Powers and his leadership. Seliger questioned whether the regents’ behavior threatens the credibility of the entire nine-campus system.
