Essential documents for the Sunday resignation of the first Woman and the first Hispanic President of Texas A&M University at College Station.–gm

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Statement from Texas A&M President Elsa A. Murano

“The events of recent weeks have been very taxing for the entire Aggie family. The faculty, students and staff have demonstrated incredible loyalty to this institution, upholding our Aggie values during these exceedingly trying times. I am truly grateful for the countless expressions of support that I have received from our faculty, staff, current and former students, and friends of Texas A&M. I cannot adequately express how much I have appreciated your many letters, phone calls, emails, and especially your prayers. They have been truly uplifting and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“My husband Peter and I fell in love with Texas A&M the moment we set foot in Aggieland back in 1995. This deep and abiding passion for what the university represents, and for the people of the Aggie family, reinforces my duty to do what is best for Texas A&M. For this reason, I will be resigning as President of our beloved university, effective tomorrow, June 15, 2009, to return to the faculty, subject to approval by the Board of Regents.

“Our university is strong and I know that we will weather this storm. I sincerely hope and pray that we will intensify our efforts to protect and enhance Texas A&M’s reputation. I trust that the important issues raised in recent weeks will be addressed in the Aggie way – with integrity, selfless service and indomitable spirit. God bless you all, and gig ’em!”

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Statement regarding resignation of Dr. Elsa A. Murano

June 14, 2009

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Dr. Elsa A. Murano today announced her resignation as president of Texas A&M University. Dr. Murano’s resignation and the plans for her transition back into the faculty will be addressed by the board at its meeting scheduled for tomorrow, June 15.

“Dr. Murano has served the university with distinction over the course of her career” said Morris E. Foster, chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. “I want to thank her for her service and commitment to the betterment of the university, its faculty and its students.”

Dr. Murano has served as president of Texas A&M University since January 2008. Plans for her succession will be taken up by the board in the near future.

“We look forward to having Dr. Murano rejoin our faculty and continue her nationally recognized work in food science,” said Michael D. McKinney, M.D., chancellor of the A&M System.

About the A&M System

The A&M System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $3.04 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities, seven state agencies and a comprehensive health science center, the A&M System educates more than 109,000 students and makes more than 15 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. Externally funded research brings in almost $676 million every year and helps drive the state’s economy.

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Evaluation documents posted at KBTX-TV website [pdf format]

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Profile of Darryl Kent Carter, Attorney for Murano

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The Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System: Morris E. Foster, Chairman; James P. Wilson, Vice Chairman;
Phil Adams, Richard A. Box, Lupe Fraga, Bill Jones, Jim Schwertner, Gene Stallings, Ida Clement Steen; Hunter Bollman, Student Regent.

Discussions Regarding Concept of Merging Certain Functions of the Flagship Institution into the A&M System Offices

Dr. Elsa A. Murano
President, Texas A&M University

May 27, 2009

To Texas A&M Faculty, Staff and Students:

I have been contacted by numerous faculty, staff and administrators, former students and friends of Texas A&M University throughout the day regarding the concept of merging certain functions of the flagship institution into the A&M System Offices as one approach in realizing cost efficiencies. While we are all concerned about the pressures of the current economic situation, I know that we are simultaneously mindful not to sacrifice academic quality, or our national reputation.

Since yesterday, I have continued to receive a diversity of perspectives from the campus community on this concept. I plan to provide these to the Regents and the Chancellor very soon. On issues of this magnitude, we all agree that an open dialogue is critical. Please know that I value your input greatly, and I appreciate all that you do to make Texas A&M one of the premier public universities in the country.

Sincerely,

Dr. Elsa A. Murano

President

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President Murano’s Biography

Dr. Elsa A. Murano is the 23rd President of Texas A&M University. Taking
office on Jan. 3, 2008, at age 49, she is the first woman and first
Hispanic-American to lead the oldest public institution of higher
learning in Texas—now one of the largest teaching and research
universities in the nation.

Dr. Murano worked her way up the academic ranks-teaching and
research-and into administration from an unconventional beginning. At
the age of 2, her family departed from Havana, Cuba, when Fidel Castro
came into power. After living in several Latin American countries, she
and her family settled in Miami when she was 14 years old. At that time,
she only knew Spanish, a language in which she is still fluent, but
quickly mastered English and launched an educational career that carried
her through the doctoral ranks.

In 2002, Hispanic Business Magazine recognized Dr. Murano as one of the
nation’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics.”

“Someday in the future, if I write a book, it will be called Only in
America, because this great country has provided me so many
opportunities, including the great honor of serving as President of
Texas A&M University,” she is often quoted as saying.

Her association with the university dates back to 1995, when she joined
the Texas A&M faculty as an Associate Professor in the Department of
Animal Science and Associate Director of the Center for Food Safety
within the Institute for Food Science and Engineering. Dr. Murano was
named Director of the Center in 1997 and served in that position until
2001. Also, she rose to the rank of Professor and was named holder of
the Sadie Hatfield Professorship in Agriculture.

Dr. Murano interrupted her Texas A&M service in 2001 when President
George W. Bush asked her to serve as Under Secretary for Food Safety for
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, making her the highest-ranking food
safety official in the U.S. government. In leading the USDA Food Safety
and Inspection Service, she was responsible for an agency with a budget
of approximately $1 billion and about 10,000 employees, with the mission
of working to improve public health through the application of science
in policy decisions.

As undersecretary for food safety at the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Murano presided over the
first case of mad cow disease in the United States.

She returned to Aggieland in January 2005 as Vice Chancellor and Dean of
Agriculture and Life Sciences, joint positions in which she served until
being appointed President of Texas A&M. As Vice C
hancellor and former
Director of Texas AgriLife Research (formerly the Texas Agricultural
Experiment Station), she led a transformation of agricultural programs
and four state agencies within The Texas A&M University System to the
benefit of students, peers and the agricultural community represented in
254 counties across Texas.

While serving as Dean, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
experienced significant growth in enrollment and enhancement of its
teaching, research and service endeavors. In conjunction with her
deanship, Dr. Murano chaired a blue-ribbon task force to study ways for
enhancing the undergraduate experience at the University, which has
ultimately become known as “The Murano Report.”

A noted expert on food safety, Dr. Murano was principal investigator or
co-principal investigator in research projects totaling more than $8.7
million during her professorial career, initially at Iowa State
University and continuing at Texas A&M. She has been widely published,
as author or co-author of seven books, book chapters or monographs, and
scores of scholarly papers, abstracts and related materials.

Her car is a 2004 Ford Thunderbird—maroon, of course!

Dr. Murano began her professorial career in 1990 as an Assistant
Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Preventative
Medicine at Iowa State, the position she held prior to joining the Texas
A&M faculty. She received a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences
from Florida International University, and earned both a master’s degree
in anaerobic microbiology and a doctorate in food science and technology
from Virginia Tech.

She is married to Dr. Peter S. Murano, Associate Professor of Nutrition
and Food Science and Director of Texas A&M’s Institute for Obesity
Research and Program Development.

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Office of the President

Vice Presidents & Executive Staff

Dr. Jeffrey S. Vitter

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academics

Dr. H. Russell Cross

Executive Vice President for Operations

Ambassador Eric Bost (Ret.)

Vice President for Global Initiatives

Mr. Bill Byrne

Director of Athletics

Dr. Pierce E. Cantrell, Jr.

Vice President and Associate Provost for Information Technology

Mr. Jason D. Cook

Vice President for Marketing & Communications

Dr. R. Bowen Loftin

Vice President and CEO, Texas A&M at Galveston (TAMUG)

Dr. Theresa Maldonado

Interim Vice President for Research

Mr. Michael G. O’Quinn

Vice President for Institutional and Federal Affairs

Mr. Terry A. Pankratz

Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Chuck Sippial

Vice President for Facilities

Mr. R. C. Slocum

Special Advisor to the President

Ms. Courtney K. Trolinger

Vice President for Governmental Affairs

Dr. Robert Walker

Senior Executive for Development

Dr. Karan Watson

Interim Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity

LtGen Joseph F. Weber, (USMC) Ret.

Vice President for Student Affairs

Mr. Chad E. Wootton

Vice President for University Advancement

Ms. Mary Pletzer

Executive Personal Assistant to the President

Join Free the Children Coalition on Aug.22, 2009, in Taylor, Texas, to close the T. Don Hutto Residential Center down and free the immigrant children being detained by the Department of Homeland Security and Corrections Corporation of America.

The Freedom Walk starts at 1pm from Heritage Park towards the detention center where a Protest/Vigil will take place from 2pm-5pm. For more info, contact:

texasindigenouscouncil@yahoo.com

Peace be with you,
Pedro Ruiz

www.youtube.com/pedroruiz21

Note: According to a report by Juan Castillo in the Aug. 8 Austin-American Statesman, the last family will not be removed until the end of 2009. The children are not gone from Hutto yet.–gm

Dear Friends:

I have just returned from a three day visit with Ramsey in El Reno, Oklahoma. Our time spent together was blessing, as we shared our faith and plans for the upcoming months.

Ramsey was sent to El Reno, Oklahoma just after he had been transferred closer to home in Three Rivers, Texas. His transfer to Three Rivers came about through the assistance of congressmen, senators, and many supporters.

He had been in Three Rivers, Texas just over five months and had begun to see his attorney so that he could reopen his case and prove his innocence. Without warning, he was transported to El Reno, Oklahoma where he is now detained. The reason for this move was never substantiated and Ramsey Muniz is in exile once again for political reasons.

At the end of 2008 we submitted an application for a Commutation of Sentence, knowing that the chances for it being approved were slim. Attached [below] is a letter from Mr. Ronald Rodgers, Pardon Attorney, who responded to the application.

Ramsey Muniz was not granted a Commutation of Sentence and through research we learned that pardons and commutations were granted to those who had close political ties or had made substantial contributions to the Republican Party. We now plan to submit an application under the administration of President Barack Obama.

Because we have a different administration, we are formulating strategies for a movement to move Ramsey back to Texas. We will seek your support once again and know that we will provide details in the near future.

Ramsey asks that everyone remember Cesar Chavez and take part in events that commemorate his birth. Cesar Chavez was born on March 31, 1927, and there will be marches in San Antonio, Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas, California, Colorado, and many other states throughout the country. This is important because our time has come! We must seize the moment as others are doing to proclaim our spirituality, culture, history, and identity during these changing times!

Sincerely,
Irma Muniz

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US Department of Justice
Pardon Attorney

Washington, DC
January 29, 2009

Memorandum

To: Warden
Federal Correctional Institution – El Reno

From: Ronald L. Rodgers
Pardon Attorney

Subject: Ramiro R. Muniz
Application for Executive Clemency

Please advise Ramiro R. Muniz that his application for executive clemency was carefully considered in this department and the White House, and the decision was reached that favorable action is not warranted. The application was therefore denied on Dec. 23, 2008. Under the Constitution there is no appeal from this decision. As a matter of well-established policy we do not disclose the reasons for the decision in a clemency matter. In addition, deliberative communications pertaining to agency and presidential decision-making are confidential and not available under existing case law interpreting the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act. If the applicant wishes to reapply for executive clemency, the applicant will become eligible to do so one year from the date on which the President denied the current application.

Please ensure that the applicant receives a copy of this memorandum reflecting the denial of this clemency application.

Editor’s Note: bold faced emphasis in original.–gm

by Greg Moses

To seal the border would they kill the river? For the time being, US Border Patrol officials say they will not spray herbicides to kill the wild Carrizo Cane along the banks of the Rio Grande River. But wary residents along the river have filed a federal lawsuit to guarantee their rights to an ecologically safe border.

In lawsuit documents released on Wednesday, an association of residents who live near the Rio Grande River charge that the Border Patrol did not take a “hard look” before declaring that proposed helicopter spraying of herbicide would have “no significant impact” on the river environment.

Residents of the Barrio De Colores association say the August 2008 environmental impact statement issued by the border patrol “cannot stand” because the analysis of impacts was not adequate, reasonable alternatives were not fully considered, and residents were not adequately notified of their rights to participate in the environmental impact review.

Some recent news reports have villified the wild Carrizo Cane plants for their ability to grow tall and thick enough to serve as co-conspirators in border smuggling operations. But environmental scientist Dr. Jim Earhart argues that poisoning the plants is not necessary if goats and donkeys are allowed to eat them.

The plants have been considered pests in the valley since they were introduced by European settlers centuries ago. Spraying herbicides from helicopters, however, would only compound the damage done to the river by outside forces.

“The Rio Grande does not belong to the United States,” said Executive Director of the Rio Grande International Study Center Jay Johnson-Castro at Wednesday’s outdoor press conference. “Nor does it belong to Mexico. It belongs to we the people.”

Residents of the Barrio De Colores association are not satisfied by this week’s assurances that the spraying has been postponed as a consequence of meetings between the border patrol and Mexican officials.

Says attorney Israel Reyna, “The day the court says it’s not going to happen, that’s when it’s not going to happen.”

[Sources: KGNS, FoxNews.com, and Barrio De Colores. Read the federal court petition here.]