When it comes to who should be involved in the Cactus Cafe, the UT administration seems to work from a definition of community that excludes everyone except non-drinking undergraduates. Now the Friends of the Cactus Cafe are advising their members: When UT asks for donations, just Close Your Checkbook.

UT doesn’t seem to have been very receptive to FOCC offers to fundraise to keep the cafe opened, so now the protest organization is asking members to sign a pledge:

Yes, I want to join the other UT alums who are Cactus Cafe fans and I pledge to withhold any further donations to the University of Texas and the UT Alumni Association until the University commits to keeping the Cactus Cafe open in a manner that preserves its fundamental character in its current location, under experienced professional management as it currently operates.

Truth is, whichever way UT jumps on the future of the cafe, massive damage has already been done to its public reputation. Back in February, Whole Foods Vice President Michael Clifford withdrew from the Management Information Sys­tems Steering Committee at the McCombs School of Business. In his explanatory letter, Clifford wrote,

I am really troubled with how the University is behaving within the community. The elimination of the informal classes and the closing of the Cactus Café put me over the line. Virtually everyone who has committed their comments to public need to take a serious look in the mirror, or at least take an informal class in public relations.

Cafe supporters will be able to give their input on the proposed plans for the venue at 4pm on April 21 in the Avaya Auditorium of the ACES building on the UT Campus (that’s rescheduled from 4.30pm.)

This article appears in April 16 • 2010.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.