Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, has jumped into the controversy over a proposed expansion of the University of Texas system, asking the university to halt its plans to build in Houston, according to the Houston Business Journal.
In November, the UT board of regents approved the purchase of 332 acres just outside the 610 Loop about 3.5 miles from the Texas Medical Center.
UT Chancellor William McRaven said at the time that he planned an "intellectual hub," an opportunity for all campuses to take advantage of Houston experts in medicine, energy, engineering, business, aerospace, healthcare and the arts.
The University of Houston was unimpressed.They immediately objected, even flinging accusations that the purchase violated state law.
Sen. Whitmire sent a letter to Chancellor McRaven on Wednesday, calling the proposed expansion an “affront to the legislative process.” He claimed that UT would have an advantage over UH and would garner more research dollars.
McRaven responded to the letter by saying Houston was big enough for both universities. “It isn’t a competition, it’s an opportunity,” he said. [HBJ]
