UT alumni propose Cactus Cafe move

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas Exes are fighting for tradition, only in a new place.

UT's Alumni organization has proposed a move for the 40-year-old Cactus Cafe, away from the Texas Student Union and into a new addition to the UT Alumni Center in 2011.

"As keepers of the history and traditions of the University," said Texas Exes Executive Director Jim Boon, "We are always sensitive to experiences that touch students' lives and create memories for alumni."

"We are open to including the Cactus Cafe into a planned building expansion for 2011 that is already in the works," Texas Exes Executive Director Jim Boon said.

Boon met with UT President Bill Powers Monday to discuss the proposal. A Texas Exes Spokeswoman said Powers planned to bring up the move Tuesday at a town hall meeting regarding budget cuts for the university.

"If we're going to meet the governor's mandate, there's a lot of things that are going to have to be looked at real hard and in the big scheme of things, this is not something that caters exclusively to students, and I can see why it would be at the top of their list," said Jim Boon, Texas Exes executive director.

At the same time, students said they want tradition to stay in the place it started 40 years ago.

"It would probably be best if they can keep it where it's at now; it's the original location," said Meng Ke, a UT graduate student who came to the meeting about budget cuts. "It's just really sad if they're going to close the place down."