I’m closing out my fifth year in higher education. I made the career shift in the fall of 2021.
While I still maintain ownership of a community newspaper, my full-time job is at the university.
It has been a rewarding experience, and I look forward to many more years in the classroom.
Along the way, I have met some incredible people who are dedicated to developing the future generation.
I’m humbled to keep company with such amazing humans.
It is no secret that higher education has become increasingly politicized during my time in it— both statewide and at the national level, it seems.
Over the past three years, there have been fundamental shifts in higher ed. funding, administration and curriculum.
I’m not here to make a political statement about any of that, though I do have my opinions.
Feel free to stop by for a cup of coffee sometime and we can discuss.
I do, however, have acute concerns when shifting politics, education and funding collide with good people doing hard work and helping students.
One such incident occurred last week when a dear friend and colleague was caught up in across-the-board budget cuts at Baylor University.
Julie Reed has been the adviser of the Baylor Lariat student newspaper for 21 years.
In that time, she has molded and influenced a generation of successful journalists.
She has former students in some of the biggest newsrooms across the country.
She has some at community newsrooms.
Some are published authors, business owners, philanthropic professionals— the list goes on.
When you’ve done the job as long as Julie, you start shaping a second generation.
Her influence is widespread moreover because she is also the executive director of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA).
This is the statewide association of college newsrooms.
Though I had long been a Texas publisher before entering education, I was never a Texas undergrad.
I went to college in Oklahoma, so I was not familiar with TIPA.
It is a one-of-a-kind experience that is invaluable for college journalists.
Julie came to the helm in a time of great uncertainty for the organization.
She has since stabilized it and grown it. It is more vibrant now today than ever.
When Julie took over TIPA, it moved back to Baylor with her.
This is fitting because the association was founded at Baylor a century ago.
So, Julie Reed is a rock star. (Did I mention she is a local product? Julie Freeman graduated from Gainesville High School and UNT.)
She is the heart and soul of college journalism in Texas. She is our guiding light.
All this being said, you can imagine how surprised we were last week to learn that Julie had been dismissed from the university.
Extreme financial troubles in Baylor have forced 12% cuts across all departments.
She got caught up in the whirlwind with one month’s severance, effective July 1.
According to alumni sources, the university has a $47 million deficit. This is unfathomable to me because, next fall, it will cost almost $68,000 per year to attend Baylor.
There’s a big tuition hike on the way and the university has reduced the amount it contributes to retirement funds from 10.8% to 8%.
The Lariat will continue publishing, but with a diminished support staff.
And the future of TIPA is unsure.
Higher education cuts are not special to Baylor.
Earlier this spring, the University of North Texas announced deep cuts in their programs and personnel with millions of dollars of faculty buyouts.
Midwestern State is suffering through much of the same.
I’m blessed to work for an institution that is seemingly on stable financial ground, but across-the-board cuts are never the way to go. There is always a more methodical way, and students at Baylor will suffer when Julie is not there.
College journalists across Texas will suffer.
Journalism in Texas will suffer.
The fourth estate of government, and the future thereof, is dependent upon young people stepping up to take the reins.
Julie is integral to this mission in Texas and beyond, and her dismissal should not be left unchallenged.
If you are so inclined, I ask you to join me in voicing concern about this decision to the Baylor administration. I encourage you to write a letter directly to Baylor president Dr. Linda A. Livingstone.
Her contact information is:
Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
Office of the President,
Baylor University
One Bear Place #97096
Waco, TX 76798-7096
[email protected]
If you know any influential Baylor alumni, I encourage you to reach out to them as well.
If you care about journalism and young people, and the future of both in the state of Texas, I encourage you to let Dr. Livingstone hear your concerns.
Austin Lewter is the director of the Texas Center for Community Journalism, an instructor of journalism at Tarleton State University and the publisher of the Whitesboro News-Record. He can be reached at [email protected]