I'm Thankful For Rich Alumni
By Zach Neumann
I was going to bitch about Iran tonight, but I find this story about UT Alum Joe Jamail a lot more entertaining (and less depressing). The NY Times writes:
Of the more than a dozen statues peppering the University of Texas campus here, one glorifies the first native-born governor, two pay tribute to deceased American presidents, and others honor Confederate leaders.
Another statue is poised to join the cast on Friday, honoring a graduate who is a successful trial lawyer.
The subject, Joe Jamail, a Houston alumnus who has donated $21.7 million to the university and its athletic programs, already has one bronze likeness at the law school and his name is on several campus sites. The newest statue of Mr. Jamail, who won billions of dollars for Pennzoil in a landmark suit in the 1980's, is scheduled to be unveiled inside the football stadium before the annual game against archrival Texas A&M.
"It is absolutely appropriate to say thank you," said William Powers Jr., dean of the University of Texas Law School. "He is an avid Longhorn sports fan."
But not everyone looks forward to another likeness. The statue, a donation from the law firm of Vinson & Elkins in Houston, makes Mr. Jamail the only person with two on the 350-acre campus, university officials say, and that distinction has rankled some faculty members.
"One is enough, with due respect to whoever," said a journalism professor, Gene Burd.
Professor Burd added that, at a time when public universities are desperate for money because of fluctuations in state financing, the new statue sent the wrong signal for people "who see this as another white male capitalist."
"Considering all the talk about other statues, it is almost asking for a demonstration or incident," he added.
I’ve got no problem with white-male-capitalists, especially when they keep our football team on top. Speaking of which, I’m calling tomorrow’s game for Texas, 35-21.
Posted by Zach Neumann at November 25, 2004 11:18 PM
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My esteemed colleague Dr. Burd seems to have too much time (and too little understanding of reality) on his hands, as "sdhook" points out. Shoot, for $21.7 million, they can put a statue of a donor inside my campus office.
Of course, you can already put your name on the door to a room at OU as a sponsor for $25,000; everything is for sale up here. This answers Andy's "how" question of Longhorn losses -- the Horns have been hooked eleven times in five years (an .822 winning average) but are oh-fer-five versus the Sooners (.000).
*chuckle*
Have fun at the SBC Cotton Bowl.
