UT's Cactus Cafe shutting its doors

AUSTIN (KXAN) - To reduce costs and repurpose resources to better serve student needs, the Texas Union Board of Directors gave its support on Friday to phase out the Texas Union’s Cactus Cafe and Informal Classes program effective August 2010. The action took place at the board’s first meeting of the spring semester.

Full-time staff affected by the closures will be offered positions at their current salary levels in other areas within the division.

The decision to close the Cactus Cafe and the Informal Classes program was made to minimize the impact of budgetary reductions on students and to protect student core services. President William Powers Jr. recently asked all university departments to prepare plans that prioritize reductions.

“Student Affairs works closely with students, and our services and programs are the direct result of those partnerships,” said Juan Gonzalez, vice president for student affairs. “Regardless of economic circumstances, we are committed to repurposing resources for the maximum benefit of our students.”

Both the Cactus Cafe and Informal Classes were largely used by non-students, and in recent years both programs required significant subsidies to remain in operation.

“Although popular with some audiences, these programs are no longer profitable and do not fit within the core student mission of the Texas Union and Student Affairs,” said Wm. Andrew Smith Jr., executive director of University Unions.