With budget tight, Texas waffles on university research - Mitchell Schnurman, Star-Telegram

A university president says that great researchers are great teachers, too. They give college students the chance to learn from the creators and read the next editions of textbooks as they're being written. And a Nobel laureate insists that the nation's top research universities are more than a national treasure: "They are the heart and soul of our prosperity," said Dr. Michael Brown, a UT Southwestern Medical Center professor who made great discoveries about cholesterol. It's not surprising that top scholars and business leaders in Texas believe in the value of cutting-edge research. Suddenly, the narrative has shifted 180 degrees. Research appears to be under attack, as conservative groups challenge university traditions. A big budget shortfall is forcing deep cuts at colleges, as well as K-12 schools, and lawmakers won't even consider raising revenue. Students, faculty and alumni are protesting en masse, and the state's reputation is taking a hit. In The New York Times, the Chronicle of Higher Education and even publications in Europe, people are questioning Texas' commitment to university research.