Thursday, December 1, 2016
southtexannews.com
Volume 91, Issue 13
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
The South Texan /TheSouthTexan
Al Jones
Edward A Martin
Fred Heldenfels
@TheSouthTexan
Larry Urban
@TheSouthTexan
Mike Shaw
Sam Susser
Tony LaMantia
ANATOMY OF A ‘SECRET’ MEETING
A&M chancellor says merger push likely dead; rebukes local media, merger critics Larry Urban
The watershed moment for the merger proposal was the release of notes detailing a meeting on Oct. 5. In attendance was a mixture of local state legislators and prominent businessmen from Corpus Christi. The South Texan gathered information about the businessmen since they were clearly important to any merger push.
-Curriculum Advisor at Texas A&M University and -Co-founder of Urban Engineering, which has supported the drone program at TAMUCC, as well as other engineering programs
Mike Shaw
-Advertises at nearly every TAMUK home football game. -By 2010 Shaw owned seven local car dealerships -TAMUK’s Athletic Hall of Fame is sponsored and named after Shaw -Mike Shaw Automotive was named TIME’s Dealer of the Year in 2012 -Shaw co-hosted the Oct. 5 meeting
Al Jones
-In 1989 became CEO of American Bank Holdings -He served until 2015 as chief executive; today he is president of the company -Past Chairman of the Board for the Regional Economic Development Corporation -REDC places emphasis on its work for higher education, presenting both TAMUCC and TAMUK on its website, and invests heavily in both universities.
Edward A. Martin
-President/CEO of Berry Contracting -In 2013 was honored with TAMUCC’s Kirkland Award -Has ties to both TAMUK and TAMUCC; his interests include the business programs at both universities
Fred Heldenfels IV
-President and CEO of Heldenfels Enterprises -Heldenfels Enterprises has worked on several different stadiums, including Kyle Field at College Station, McLane stadium in Waco, Whataburger Field, and the American Bank Center -2010-2013 Chairman Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board(THECB) -The THECB would produce a report detailing any successful merger plan for legislators.
Sam Susser
Photo by Crystal Zamarron
Chancellor John Sharp speaks at a Nov. 21 town hall meeting at Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown Alex Guerra Reporter @alxgrr
ROBSTOWN, TX—Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp backed away from supporting a potential merger between Corpus Christi and Kingsville campuses after controversy erupted over an Oct. 5 meeting involving state legislators and more than a half-dozen of the area’s most prominent businessmen. Sharp hosted a sometimes heated town hall gathering at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds on Nov. 21 to answer concerns regarding the
proposed merger, which he later said was “dead as a doornail.” Much of the town hall was spent reassuring members of both South Texas communities, some of whom were upset about news of a private meeting between the chancellor, local state legislators and several wealthy businessmen. Sharp said there was nothing unusual about the meeting, though critics say the fact so many stakeholders were absent says otherwise. “I did not call a secret meeting. I did not participate in a secret meeting,” Sharp repeatedly told the Robstown gathering of a few
See Merger, page 5
hundred people. TAMUK President Dr. Steven Tallant reiterated as much Monday during his presidential round table. “This has not been a series of magical, undercover meetings,” he told students. MERGER TALKS CATCH STUDENTS, FACULTY BY SURPRISE The public, including students, faculty and staff at both campuses, were only made aware of the proposed merger plans after State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, who was present at the Oct. 5 meeting, confirmed to a Corpus Christi television station on
-Former non-executive chairman for Sunoco LP -Built chain of more than 650 convenience stores under Stripes brand with revenues of several billion dollars -Energy Transfer Partners purchased Susser’s business for a deal valued at $1.8 billion -The Oct. 5 meeting was held at Susser’s Corpus Christi office and was hosted by Shaw and Susser
Tony LaMantia
-Partner with L & F Distributors, a beer and spirit distribution company that focuses on megabrands like Budweiser, Michelob, and Bud Light, with warehouses across Texas and in New Mexico -LaMantia serves on the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation Board; in 2009 he was named chairman -The board has many regional partners including TAMUCC -LaMantia family organization supports education with numerous annual scholarships
Answering students, faculty concerns
Fall 2016 President Round Table lets students voice their opinions and questions Alex Guerra Reporter @alxgrr Texas A&M University-Kingsville students and faculty gathered to discuss campus concerns at the President’s Round Table forum on Monday. The semi-annual event, sponsored by the Student Government Association
Final Exams Schedule, Page 5
encourages students to have their voices heard by administration. Those present included President Dr. Steven Tallant, Provost Dr. Heidi Anderson, Dr. Terisa Riley, senior vice president for fiscal and student affairs, Randy Hughes, chief of staff, Dr. Dolores Guerrero, dean of College of Arts & Sciences; and D. Scott Gines, vice president of intercollegiate
athletics and campus recreation. Tallant addressed the now publicized Oct. 5 meeting and attempted to put to rest some persistent rumors. According to the TAMUK president, talk of a merger is nothing new and has been a running dialogue before his administrative term began in 2008.
“This has not been a series of magical, undercover meetings,” Tallant said. He advocated how forward thinking will promote the university’s status. Tallant made it a point to say that A&M-Kingsville is far more advanced compared to any other sister school within the system. Considering what students in 30 years will need in order
INSIDE STORIES Fall 2016 Graduation ceremony information, Page 4
33rd annual Jazz Bash, Page 3 Senior Art Exhibit, Page 2
to be the best, he thought that the merger was a worthy idea to discuss. After a series of negative stories in the local media, however, he feels the timing is not yet right to move forward. Tallant said the merger concept lacks legislative support and is “…as dead as a doornail. “It won’t happen for 400
years, promise,” Tallant said. The merger was not the only major issue Tallant and other administrators addressed at the forum. The issue of parking shortages due to construction of the new music building was raised. A portion of Manning Hall’s lot is barricaded and
See Round Table, page 5
INDEX
#JAVLIFE........................................2&3
Farwells from 2 The South Texan contributors, Page 6
CAMPUS NEWS...............................4&5 ED./OPINION....................................6 SPORTS.............................................7 AD....................................................8
NOTE: Last paper of the semester. Good luck on Final Exams from The South Texan!