Slade doesn't plan to attend dismissal hearing

Ah, Priscilla Slade — we hadn't heard anything from the soon-to-be-former TSU president in a while, but today there's news that she has decided not to attend the public hearing she requested to try to clear her name and keep her job. Slade, accused of spending nearly $1 million in university funds for unauthorized personal purchases during her seven years as head of TSU, said through her attorney that she won't get a fair hearing, so she's staying home. Anyone want to bet that she complains later that no one listened to her side of the story?

The TSU regents voted 8-1 on April 17 to dismiss Slade, but she's allowed a public hearing — scheduled for today — before the decision becomes final. Though her lawyer, Ron Franklin, said she won't attend because the regents have already made up their minds, observers say it might be smart for Slade to skip the hearing: Anything she said in the hearing could be used in the criminal investigations against her.

"Priority one is to avoid being indicted," said Adam M. Gershowitz, a criminal law expert at the South Texas College of Law. "If she thinks there is hope after meeting informally with the district attorney, then the prudent thing is to keep quiet. It's all risk and no upside if she starts flapping her gums."

But Slade's absence today could also hurt her lawsuit against TSU, in which she accuses the regents of failing to provide an adequate hearing for her before deciding to fire her. We're guessing it wouldn't sound as good in court for Slade to say that there was a hearing, but she decided not to go. "She is in a difficult spot," South Texas professor Richard R. Carlson said.

During today's hearing, Slade and her attorneys will be given four hours to make their case, followed by four hours of questions from regents. "We don't know what they will do, but we will be there to give her due process," board Chairman J. Paul Johnson told the Chronicle.

Update: KTRK is reporting the TSU regents decided to make Slade's dismissal effective June 17. No details yet, but it looks like the meeting didn't last a full eight hours after all.