Did University Presidents Throw CPE Under the Bus?

PolWatchers report that the university presidents didn't say much after their meeting with Governor Beshear...but it sounds to me like they said a lot.

This from PolWatchers:

University presidents say little after meeting with Beshear

The presidents of Kentucky's public universities and community and technical college system said little Wednesday that revealed the specifics of their one-hour meeting with Gov. Steve Beshear.

Beshear himself declined to comment as aides whisked him into an official vehicle outside the Capitol. "I'm 30 minutes late for my next meeting," Beshear said.

The presidents had requested the meeting, apparently to discuss their proposed tuition increases and disenchantment with the way the state Council on Postsecondary Education is organized and operates.

The presidents largely answered questions in generalities, with University of Louisville President Jim Ramsey making the most pointed remarks.

"It's unfortunate that the council is not seen to play a key role as advisor to the governor and the General Assembly," Ramsey said.

But he emphasized that the current controversy over tuition increases, the council's hiring of Brad Cowgill as its president and the structure and personnel of the council itself should not obscure the "incredible progress" the campuses have made since Kentucky enacted its higher education reforms of 1997.

Then Ramsey kinda ...sorta ...tossed CPE under the bus.

"They don't teach any classes, they're not educating students, they don't do any research like that taking place on the campuses," he said. "As long as the universities are focused and committed and moving forward, reform will continue to happen." ...

That's a far cry from encouraging the governor to keep CPE in its present form, or that CPE is necessary to future progress.