Save the Cactus Cafe.org

A campaign of Friends of the Cactus Cafe

With only Love & Respect for your Highest Intentions to "Save The Cactus" at any & all costs (Within Peaceful Measures):

The University of Texas at Austin desires nothing more that a fair fight "mono e mono" in Public Space against the group that wants to save the Cactus. They must defeat only a single opponent before continuing their mission to crush the delicate Cactus, and that is precisely the gift this group provides the University.The University of Texas at Austin is an ancient, wealthy, powerful and cunning adversary: He will not accept defeat and will bend, push, intimidate, incentivize and finally subjugate this Organization known as "Save The Cactus" at any costs...

Groucho Marx famously said, "I don't want to be a part of any club that would have me as a member."

Joking aside, his comment unscores the inevitable and irreversable fact that any organization immediately becomes corruptable and controllable upon conception.

The University of Texas will do absolutely anything to neutralize this group, and therefore I must direct my personal efforts outside the confines of your newborn bureacracy. For it was bureacracy that led us to the closing of the Cactus in the first place.

In conclusion, rather than giving the Goliath of UT the simple target of a single David (which he's wise to this time around thanks to his love
of History), I propose we all act as our peaceful hearts dictate and assult the Giant with dozens upon dozens of assults of enlightened Love, from above, behind, below, inside outside, always peacefully but with the passion of our affection for the Cactus Cafe.

The University will defeat, silence and neutralize many of our voices over the next six months, but they cannot silence every last one of us.

Sincerely,
Tony Velasco
Proud Graduate of The University of Texas at Austin
BS Advertising 1995
\m/ Hook 'Em Horns!
Long Live The Cactus!!!

Sadly the moment an organization like this is born, it becomes immediately and inevitably

Never overlook the strong possibility that the leftwing activism of many of performers who grace the Cactus stage is a factor behind this betrayal. UT is currently run by some of the most well-entrenched right-wing powerbrokers in the USA. Google James Huffines for a glimpse of this if you are not already familar with him. I kinda doubt he spends a whole lot of time listening to Steve Earle and Jesse Winchester.

I am extremely wary of the offer from the UT-Exes. It came too fast and seemed well orchestrated and pre-planned.

By not providing even a reference to a valid study of why the Cactus is to be closed makes it appear to be a biased personal decision and seems reckless and self serving to the bureaucracy’s agenda, right wing or not. The Cactus Café is an icon and something UT should be as proud of as the HRC. What is the world coming to when we can pay millions for sports but can’t scrounge what amounts to pocket change for the campus living room? As an alumnus of UT I can tell you, if the Cactus Café is closed, I will no longer donate – period.

30 years listening to music at the Cactus & not ready to quit.

The idea that the Cactus would still exist in any other room is ridiculous. Acoustically it is exceptional (stone walls helps), as is regularly cited by most any performer lucky enough to occupy that stage. I heard a soundbite with a UT student saying he didn't care since he'd never been there nor had any of his friends. Too bad for that guy and his friends. I would venture to guess this same guy could say that about any number of UT properties...Bass Concert Hall, LBJ Library, Blanton Museum and so on.
With such a paltry negative budget line (I mean really $120,000?? and you're ready to axe an institution?), it seems that sum could easily be recouped by charging a few more $$$ per ticket sold at shows.
As Bob said above, I am a UT alum who will discontinue donating to the university if they kill the Cactus.