Juan Gonzalez, a final candidate for the position of vice president of student affairs, has threatened to remove student press from campus and was criticized for the cancellation of a student fund-raiser at his previous universities, according to student leaders who have worked with him.
Gonzalez, vice president for student affairs at Arizona State University, is one of three remaining candidates for the position. UT President Larry Faulkner, who was unavailable for comment, has finished checking references and is expected to make an announcement concerning the appointment by next week, said Nancy McCowen, executive assistant to the president.
Gonzalez did not respond to a phone request for comment Monday.
When ASU's State Press Magazine, a supplement to their student newspaper, printed a black-and-white photo of a pierced female breast in a story about erotic body piercings, Gonzalez met with editors and said a second controversy would require "an exit strategy." In 2000, Gonzalez prevented Georgetown University students from holding a traditional off-campus fund-raiser by arguing against their issuance of a liquor license.
In October 2004, Gonzalez held a meeting with editors to discuss the controversy surrounding the "Sensual Steel" article.
Cameron Eickmeyer, former State Press editor in chief, said he was angered when Gonzalez threatened him and other editors with the possibility of an "exit strategy" if controversial content was printed again.
"He said that President [Michael] Crow was very concerned and that a large public donor had been very concerned," Eickmeyer said. "He went on to say that if he had to come down to our newsroom to have another meeting with me about something to do with content of a similar nature, that we wouldn't be discussing the issue, we would be discussing an 'exit strategy,' were his exact words."
Eickmeyer said he was prepared for and used to conflicts between the student paper and the administration.
"It pretty much happens at every student paper across the country," he said. "But I thought this really crossed the line that they were threatening to kick us off campus."
Selections of an e-mail exchange between Gonzalez and Crow were published by The Associated Press. In one e-mail to Crow, Gonzalez said, "I have clearly put them on notice that one more occurrence will result in immediate severance of ASU support. ... After the discussion, they understand the intense relationship and dependency they have with the university."
Ten percent of the State Press's budget comes from tuition, and its offices are housed in an ASU building. Gonzalez said this relationship "might end up ending," Eickmeyer said.
Eickmeyer said that Gonzalez's relationship with the paper improved during the following semester and that he did not think Gonzalez was acting maliciously. He said Gonzalez was very active and involved with students.
Before ASU hired Gonzalez in August 2003, he was the vice president for student affairs at Georgetown University from 2000 to 2003. He held the same title at California Polytechnic State University from 1994 to 2000.
UT Law student Jack Ternan served as chair of Georgetown's student government while an undergraduate and worked directly with Gonzalez on multiple occasions.
"He's not a good guy," Ternan said. "He's a bad candidate."
Ternan cited the controversy surrounding Gonzalez's actions that led to the cancellation of a fund-raising tradition known as the Block Party. Editorials in Georgetown's student newspaper The Hoya criticized Gonzalez for contributing to the cancellation.
"So we are left to ask ourselves, who is our representative in the administration?" an Oct. 3, 2000 editorial stated. "His active interference in the organization of the charity Block Party has made him the enforcer of the administration rather than 'first and foremost, a student advocate'" as he had promised students he would be in an August 2000 interview with The Hoya.
Ternan said Gonzalez tried to prohibit students from anonymously distributing fliers and other informational materials - a policy declared unconstitutional last month when the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that UT-Austin could not force student organizations to place names and personal information on leaflets.
"Time and time again at Georgetown he would do whatever the administration told him to do, because he's all about advancing the career ladder," Ternan said.
Omar Ochoa, UT Student Government president, said Gonzalez is his favorite candidate. Ochoa spoke with Gonzalez at an open forum for him held at the University and said he has had discussions with ASU's student body president and student leaders from California who have worked with Gonzalez.
In terms of students, what they mostly say about him is that he's very direct," Ochoa said. "He knows what direction he's likely to go, but he's open to student input. That might turn some people off because if he doesn't agree with you, he might expect you to explain your position."
A search committee recommended four final candidates for the vice president of student affairs position in April out of an initial pool of 55. One of the final candidates, Peg Blake, vice president of student affairs at Boise State University, dropped out of the race after being charged with DWI.
Search Committee Chair Marilyn Kameen, senior associate dean of the College of Education, said she did not know about the State Press or Georgetown Block Party incidents. She said she sensed Gonzalez would look at all sides of an issue.
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