Whitmire texts Khator: You have overstepped
Excerpts of text messages exchanged Saturday between University of Houston Chancellor and President Renu Khator and state Sen. John Whitmire of Houston:
8:45 a.m.
Khator: You will read about UH requiring freshmen living outside 20-mile radius and not married to live on campus. Easy waivers to others. It is to change the culture and create new expectation. Applies only to full time freshmen. Darrin (Darrin Hall, UH director of governmental relations) sent our statement to your office yesterday.
Whitmire: Sounds like we need to talk. I think you
have overstepped on this one. Expect lots of push back.
Khator: Waiver is for anyone who gives any reason at all — any reason including financial, religious, family. Eleven other universities in Texas (not UT and A&M) are successfully using them. Students are fully supportive.
Whitmire: You and somebody did not think this through.
Khator: It is on board agenda. Has not been done yet. Will think more so we do the right thing.
9:15 a.m.
Whitmire: I would like to know who came up with this. I will stop dead and pass leg if I need to.
Khator: I am sorry to have disappointed you.
(Whitmire and Khator have a telephone conversation, then the texts resume.)
10:05 a.m.
Khator: Are you still upset? The issue was going only as information/ option to board and I have already killed any further consideration on it. Can you please not forgive? Is there anything I can do to ensure you it is killed from consideration? You are the best critic/friend I have so I killed it on Saturday itself.
Whitmire: Well the (Chronicle) article really set me back. It is so unfounded with lack of realism of the people I represent and UH serves that I am not going to stop until your administration understands their mission. Furthermore you totally mishandled presenting this to me and legislators.
10:49 a.m.
Khator: We will learn. Media has misled everyone by portraying it as if it done deal. They love to create sensation and we were idiots to allow it.
Anyway, it is now killed even from consideration and we will listen and learn. Thank you.