Cactus: KUT to the Rescue

KUT director and General Manager Stewart Vanderwilt (c), joined UT Vice President for Student Affairs Juan González (r) and station Program Director Hawk Mendenhall in announcing plans to split management of the Cactus Cafe between the Texas Union and KUT. (Photo by John Anderson)

The Texas Union and KUT Radio have struck a handshake deal over the future of the Cactus Cafe. On May 19, Juan González, vice president for student affairs, announced that as of August the local NPR affiliate will take over year-round booking for the music side of the venue at the University of Texas, while the Texas Union will continue to manage the bar operations. This scenario is a long way from the situation in January, when Texas Union management announced it was shutting down the venue. With hindsight and after massive student outcry against the decision, González said, "We never should have used the word 'closure.'" He praised KUT as a business partner and fellow UT-based institution, but what was lacking from the announcement was any kind of detail on the proposal. No decisions have been finalized about core issues like staffing and revenue splitting, but KUT management said they expected these issues to be hashed out over the summer. "We're all family," said station general manager Stewart Vanderwilt. See "Off the Record," Music.