"Together for Texans," the joint program of Texas A&M and The University of Texas at Austin to rally additional support for the state's two flagship universities, is picking up steam this week and scheduled to reach a crescendo Tuesday (Feb. 15) with many of their alumni gathering for "Orange and Maroon Legislative Day."

The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M and UT-Austin's Texas Exes are co-sponsoring "Orange and Maroon Legislative Day" as a means of generating greater awareness of the value of the two institutions in educating thousands of young men and women - many of them likely future leaders for the state and nation - and underscoring the contributions they make economically and culturally to the state.

Hundreds of alumni from the two universities are expected to participate in the Legislative Day, beginning with a noon kick-off event at Saengerrunde Hall in downtown Austin followed by Capitol Building office visits with legislators to encourage them to give maximum consideration to the two institutions in the upcoming appropriations process. The day's events will conclude with an evening reception.

President R. Bowen Loftin and University of Texas at Austin Provost Steven Leslie are scheduled to be special guests of the two associations and join in many of the day's activities, particularly those associated with the kick-off event and reception, event planners note.

Loftin and University of Texas at Austin President William Powers have been working together for several months to garner support through a series of meetings around the state with alumni, civic and other leaders.

They also jointly authored an opinion article - an op-ed - that has started appearing in some key newspapers statewide.

Public hearings for the Legislature's appropriations process continue with the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education this week, with Texas A&M scheduled for Wednesday (Feb. 16).