AUSTIN Update Thread

[Benhudd01]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

Unfortunately the university has to look out for itself where it can. The state and the Perry gang have done everything they possible can to harm UT. From trying to force the school to do things their ways, to cutting state funding from 25% to 13% of the budget, and all sorts of other ways they could try to harm the school.

Perry and those in the State are clowns they have no business sticking their nose in these things and trying to run such institutions. Especially when private funds make up more of its funding than the state does now.

Has anyone heard about our latest Medical School in the Austin area, that Perry made? It is a Texas A&M Medical School in Round Rock. There are 80 students and NO faculty, no doctors, no nothings. They use doctors in the Austin area hospitals to teach them. It is ridiculous, and not a real medical school. It is shameful, and if the state and Perry had their way, that is how education would be done in Texas.

So UT is left without the support of the state if it wants to continue to be a respected education and research school. It has to find money anywhere it can. Over half of the fund made by the Longhorn TV Network for sports now goes to the Academics side. In that and other-ways, UT has built up such a huge athletic brand they are now using it to fund academics which is the opposite of almost every other school in the country. That is one way to go about finding money. Others are the problems where it is basically giving away this huge park area to the city. They could make $5 mil a year off that land easy, but have been leasing it to the city for less than $500k. I don't think it is an accident that now that the State has slashed its funding of UT, that UT has had to go and look at options such as these to find funding.

What really bugs me here, is (only some of the "Save Muny", not all of them) are saying they will oppose the Medical School no matter where in Austin it is built, unless UT promises to keep the golf course. That is very selfish to me. For one I don't even like golf, and would like to see it turned into a park, but even then I would rather see it stay as a golf course than turned into a massive project. But I wouldn't oppose it because I know it is only selfishness on my part. Having a golf course or open green space is good for peoples health. But not even remotely close to the benefit to the health of those in the city of Austin that a top tier Medical School would provide. And I mean one like UT-Southwestern in Dallas, MD Anderson and UT Med School in Houston, or UT- Health Science Center in SA would provide, not the joke of a A&M school that Perry some how hid the funding for until it was finished before anyone had any idea what had happened.

I don't disagree with you that Perry and his Aggie goons are trying to ruin UTs hopes of getting the Austin medical school but you really should get your facts straight about the A&M branch in Round Rock. My brother is a UT graduate and a 4th year medical student at A&M medical school (Performing his rotations in Round Rock but currently at Vanderbilt for his ER rotation). In medical school after 2 years of actual textbook schooling you then go through 2 years of clinical rotations. At A&M after 2 years in College Station you have a choice to do rotations in Round Rock, Temple or Dallas (Dallas was recently added a year ago). The students get to chose where they want to go based on their personal preferences, and it just so happens that the Austin hospital system is a great place to get hands on experience. The satellite A&M campus in no way effects UT's chances of getting a medical school because it is for 3rd year students and higher, and for you to say those medical school students are nobody's is a huge insult and absolutely false.

[BevoLJ]

Sorry if I came off wrong, but I most certainly did not suggest that the students at the school are nobodies. I suggested that it is not a real medical school. And it is a shameful attempt by Perry get rid of research and even worse turn the teaching aspects of education into a business for profit. This is exactly what he has done with the Round Rock school and trying to do with education in Texas as a whole. Get rid of all the research and turn all the schools into factories for teaching, which only focus on the profitability of their operation.

My father was Chief of Surgery at Seton downtown. He currently has a young lady from UT Galveston studding under him. There is nothing wrong with that aspect of it. I don't for one second believe that the students like your brother are nobodies or anything like that. I really don't know where you got that from. It isn't about them but about the school. It does them a huge disservice. My father didn't even know about that school in RR until a couple weeks ago. And when he heard about it he flipped out. Lol. That my father, someone who was once the Chief Surgeon at the largest hospital in Austin, didn't even know about it says a lot to me how it was pushed through and done by Perry. But what really upset him was the move to the type of schools they are trying to build now. Rather than schools like the ones I mentioned in my previous post, they are only interested in the lowest cost doctor factories. That is not doing anyone any favors. Not your brother and not the rest of us who have to place our trust and lives in hands of doctors.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

Unfortunately the university has to look out for itself where it can. The state and the Perry gang have done everything they possible can to harm UT. From trying to force the school to do things their ways, to cutting state funding from 25% to 13% of the budget, and all sorts of other ways they could try to harm the school.

Perry and those in the State are clowns they have no business sticking their nose in these things and trying to run such institutions. Especially when private funds make up more of its funding than the state does now.

Has anyone heard about our latest Medical School in the Austin area, that Perry made? It is a Texas A&M Medical School in Round Rock. There are 80 students and NO faculty, no doctors, no nothings. They use doctors in the Austin area hospitals to teach them. It is ridiculous, and not a real medical school. It is shameful, and if the state and Perry had their way, that is how education would be done in Texas.

So UT is left without the support of the state if it wants to continue to be a respected education and research school. It has to find money anywhere it can. Over half of the fund made by the Longhorn TV Network for sports now goes to the Academics side. In that and other-ways, UT has built up such a huge athletic brand they are now using it to fund academics which is the opposite of almost every other school in the country. That is one way to go about finding money. Others are the problems where it is basically giving away this huge park area to the city. They could make $5 mil a year off that land easy, but have been leasing it to the city for less than $500k. I don't think it is an accident that now that the State has slashed its funding of UT, that UT has had to go and look at options such as these to find funding.

What really bugs me here, is (only some of the "Save Muny", not all of them) are saying they will oppose the Medical School no matter where in Austin it is built, unless UT promises to keep the golf course. That is very selfish to me. For one I don't even like golf, and would like to see it turned into a park, but even then I would rather see it stay as a golf course than turned into a massive project. But I wouldn't oppose it because I know it is only selfishness on my part. Having a golf course or open green space is good for peoples health. But not even remotely close to the benefit to the health of those in the city of Austin that a top tier Medical School would provide. And I mean one like UT-Southwestern in Dallas, MD Anderson and UT Med School in Houston, or UT- Health Science Center in SA would provide, not the joke of a A&M school that Perry some how hid the funding for until it was finished before anyone had any idea what had happened.

I don't want to take on anything argument here... just know that the UT system general disrepect for the community started long before the curent politcal climate. It has not helped, I totally agree.... but it was a chacteristic long before.

[Myomi]

I can't tell if you are deliberately lying Bevo or what is going on, but I have to call you out on these statements. Now, let me make it clear. I got my degree from The University of Texas at Austin. But I have to come to the defense of the A&M Health Science Center (which is completely a separate university from A&M that most people think of) Now then...

For someone who is in the profession, your father should know that sending 3rd and 4th years away from the main campus is done around the country on almost a universal basis. Benhudd01 brother is not some unique circumstance who is "getting a disservice." Man, I hope you know how insulting and ignorant such a statement is. It happens all the time. Texas Tech, A&M, UTSA are easy examples off the top of my head from around the state, and I am pretty sure the other schools do it too. And these students are not just dumped into a city to leach of the resources of the population there. The statement that there are no faculty in Austin...where did you or your father get that from. Please use google before you make sure outlandish statements as:

Has anyone heard about our latest Medical School in the Austin area, that Perry made? It is a Texas A&M Medical School in Round Rock. There are 80 students and NO faculty, no doctors, no nothings. They use doctors in the Austin area hospitals to teach them. It is ridiculous, and not a real medical school. It is shameful, and if the state and Perry had their way, that is how education would be done in Texas.

http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/campuses/rr/message.html
http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/campuses/rr/chairs.html
http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/campuses/rr/directors.html

That should outline enough to you a full faculty hierarchy developed to facilitate the 3rd and 4th years in Round Rock. And, of course, the school has residents, that also act as instructors but are not technically faculty. And they have a building with plans of expansion.

Oh...and finally, it didn't get pushed through. The program was planned from 2007 with state funding, and the land was donated in 2008. I heard about all of these events when I was going to school at UT back then and have know about the planned rotations sites there for quite some time.

Honestly, I really brush off these kind of statements a lot here, but man, as someone who knows people going through these programs and how hard they work, what you said really is a cut against their integrity and caliber. I really had to say something about it. I am not going to even touch how any attempt to reform medical education (which of course has many sides of the debate) had absolutely nothing to do with opening a campus in Round Rock. All it was is the A&M got a great opportunity to expand their program and create several more rotation spots to allow for more medical students in their program. Don't act like an Aggie and please think rationally before you spout off about a rival school. Don't be upset, in a time of budget cuts, of any expansion of medical education to help our extreme shortage, even if it bears the name A&M. Honestly, before you respond to this (which I am sure you will), take some time to research the campus before saying such disparaging things. Here are more links if you need them.

http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/campuses/rr/index.html

http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/pmr/pmr.pdf

[Austin1971]

If UT wants a medical school in Austin it will be built. I think one of the reasons light rail was removed for a vote this November is because it would have competed against some sort of medical school bond. UT has already committed 25 mil a year to help run the program and Seton has pledged 250 mil towards building a new hospital. Austin is the largest city in the US lacking a teaching hospital. It will happen soon....

[nixcity]

Having a golf course or open green space is good for peoples health

Open green spaces I agree are healthy for citizens however gold courses quite to the contrary....If this was just a park it would have more oxygen producing trees. The most important part, however, is the HUGE amount of chemicals that are required to keep a golf course GREEN, and being so close to the river I can only imagine the runoff that happens when it rains or when they water. And when they water they use HUGE amounts of water,,,,anyway...

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by nixcity

Open green spaces I agree are healthy for citizens however gold courses quite to the contrary....If this was just a park it would have more oxygen producing trees. The most important part, however, is the HUGE amount of chemicals that are required to keep a golf course GREEN, and being so close to the river I can only imagine the runoff that happens when it rains or when they water. And when they water they use HUGE amounts of water,,,,anyway...

Good point Nix. How many of these people defending MUNY realize just how environmentally unfriendly a golf course is. You sure as heck dont hear people attacking them on that point and I think it is about time to do so. I can see a park or a natural green space but a golf course is hardly a true natural green space.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by Myomi

I can't tell if you are deliberately lying Bevo or what is going on, but I have to call you out on these statements. Now, let me make it clear. I got my degree from The University of Texas at Austin. But I have to come to the defense of the A&M Health Science Center (which is completely a separate university from A&M that most people think of) Now then...

For someone who is in the profession, your father should know that sending 3rd and 4th years away from the main campus is done around the country on almost a universal basis. Benhudd01 brother is not some unique circumstance who is "getting a disservice." Man, I hope you know how insulting and ignorant such a statement is. It happens all the time. Texas Tech, A&M, UTSA are easy examples off the top of my head from around the state, and I am pretty sure the other schools do it too. And these students are not just dumped into a city to leach of the resources of the population there. The statement that there are no faculty in Austin...where did you or your father get that from. Please use google before you make sure outlandish statements as:

http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/campuses/rr/message.html
http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/campuses/rr/chairs.html
http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/campuses/rr/directors.html

That should outline enough to you a full faculty hierarchy developed to facilitate the 3rd and 4th years in Round Rock. And, of course, the school has residents, that also act as instructors but are not technically faculty. And they have a building with plans of expansion.

Oh...and finally, it didn't get pushed through. The program was planned from 2007 with state funding, and the land was donated in 2008. I heard about all of these events when I was going to school at UT back then and have know about the planned rotations sites there for quite some time.

Honestly, I really brush off these kind of statements a lot here, but man, as someone who knows people going through these programs and how hard they work, what you said really is a cut against their integrity and caliber. I really had to say something about it. I am not going to even touch how any attempt to reform medical education (which of course has many sides of the debate) had absolutely nothing to do with opening a campus in Round Rock. All it was is the A&M got a great opportunity to expand their program and create several more rotation spots to allow for more medical students in their program. Don't act like an Aggie and please think rationally before you spout off about a rival school. Don't be upset, in a time of budget cuts, of any expansion of medical education to help our extreme shortage, even if it bears the name A&M. Honestly, before you respond to this (which I am sure you will), take some time to research the campus before saying such disparaging things. Here are more links if you need them.

http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/campuses/rr/index.html

http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/pmr/pmr.pdf

UTSA doesn't have a medical school... yet. Hopefully UTSA and UTHSCSA will merge within the coming few years. However, you are definitely correct on the merits.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Good point Nix. How many of these people defending MUNY realize just how environmentally unfriendly a golf course is. You sure as heck dont hear people attacking them on that point and I think it is about time to do so. I can see a park or a natural green space but a golf course is hardly a true natural green space.

Nor is it a place that most of us who don't play golf will ever enjoy. You can't just pop in off the street and stroll around a golf course, or ride your bike on the cart paths. Too bad there's no chance the general public would ever have an opportunity to share these spaces without taking up golf.

[shanny]

its not nearly as many chemicals as you would think... and most courses are kept green with recycled water

[Myomi]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

UTSA doesn't have a medical school... yet. Hopefully UTSA and UTHSCSA will merge within the coming few years. However, you are definitely correct on the merits.

Sorry, that was a shorthand reference everyone uses when referring to schools they are applying to. UTSA doesn't have a medical school. The University of Texas System does have a Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. This is a full medical school.

http://som.uthscsa.edu

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by Myomi

Sorry, that was a shorthand reference everyone uses when referring to schools they are applying to. UTSA doesn't have a medical school. The University of Texas System does have a Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. This is a full medical school.

http://som.uthscsa.edu

Yes, I know, like I said in my original post, that there's a medical school in S.A. I.E. UTHSCSA...

I also alluded to the current discussions between the UTSA and UTHSCSA about merging, which will hopefully happen within five to ten years.

[KevinFromTexas]

It's ROT Rally this weekend. Anyone going for photos? I'm thinking of going.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

It's ROT Rally this weekend. Anyone going for photos? I'm thinking of going.

Oh Damn... Im out of town... I always go!

[BevoLJ]

I'm going! I'm taking my Vespa! Zoom! Zoom! lol

I always feel funny on my scooter around a bunch of big bikes but it is fun. Not to long ago I was going north on South Congress and a HUGE group of about 50 bikes came up on me from behind and overtook me right around Elizabeth Street.. They all surrounded and kind of engulfed me. It was really cool. They were very nice. We stopped at the light on Riverside and they asked which way I was heading. I told them Westlake and they said they were going that way out to from Bee Caves Rd to 71 for a Hill Country ride. They invited me to ride in the middle of their group until I got to Westlake. It was tons and tons of fun. I can't wait to do it again.

The Austin Scooter Club is having some rides this weekend too. I can't decide if I want to ride with my friend who has a bike, or with one of the scooter club rides. There are quite a few of each, so I'll probably get at least one ride with different group types.

Oh, also. Since there will be lots of bikes downtown, the local pub and patio on the Drag is the official Scooter hang out for the weekend. In case anyone else has a scooter. =)

[priller]

I'll be hearing them all weekend!

[gmsalpha]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

I'm going! I'm taking my Vespa! Zoom! Zoom! lol

Your Vespa is made by Mazda? Zoom! Zoom! Hehe. :p

I kid. I kid.

I would love to live, work, and play in a downtown area that allows for using a scooter as my primary mode of transportation. I have my eye on one of the 150cc ones that apparently to 59mph and get 70mpg.

If it's not a Vespa, it's just not the same, is it?

[the Genral]

Made another Tuesday night trip to DT last night. Still amazed about how vibrant it was for a Tuesday night. Back- in parking seems weird to me... I saw a young lady driver having a heck of a time trying to park near Home Slice, almost caused me to wreck. I wanted to find surface parking so I could walk around for a bit, it was around 8PM...not one spot! SOCO is pretty cool. I'm liking DT from 6th street east to west and to the south. To the north is boring, no offense intended to the Capitol Bldg. I also like the view of downtown from the east looking west from I35. I wish there were more I35 drive by pics posted of dt. I am reversing my opinion of the highrise planetarium project, now being in favor of some highrise construction activity for that area. I think its needed for the sake of spreading the skyline northward. Having a very tall bldg anchoring the north and the Austonian anchoring the south end would look pretty unique. For you guys who live in or near dt, I envy you. But I don't know if you are ever amazed at the changes like those of us who only get to see it in person every few months or so. I get blown away everytime I come visit.

[BevoLJ]

Originally Posted by gmsalpha

Your Vespa is made by Mazda? Zoom! Zoom! Hehe. :p

I kid. I kid.

I would love to live, work, and play in a downtown area that allows for using a scooter as my primary mode of transportation. I have my eye on one of the 150cc ones that apparently to 59mph and get 70mpg.

If it's not a Vespa, it's just not the same, is it?

Oh, there are many great scooter brands. Buddys are amazing. Vespa is really just paying for the name. They aren't much if any better than many of the other brands.

I can get up to 60 mph pretty fast on 360. And I get like 80 mpg. I think Buddy (made by Genuine Scooters) is by far the most popular in Austin. Their 125 and 150's can get up to 70 mph easy and they get close to (maybe even over) 100 miles per gallon.

[DougRockstead]

Don't know if this has been posted on the forum yet, but I remember guys like Mopacs and Priller are constantly taking photos. This is right up your alley.

http://www.kvue.com/news/KVUE-Summer...157577845.html