UT Austin ousts KUT chief after festival safety clash

UT Austin fired KUT General Manager Debbie Hiott after she publicly challenged the university’s safety assertions about the station’s inaugural KUT Festival, a clash that led to the festival being scaled back and moved off campus. Hiott says she was terminated rather than quitting; university counsel accused her of making false statements about festival safety, and UT‑Austin later named Gerald Johnson as interim general manager as the dispute drew broader questions about campus safety standards for major events.