Long thread:

I’ve received many emails over the past few weeks asking for more information about UTMB’s role in the censuring of @TAMU prof Joy Alonzo.

Background: texastribune.org/2023/07/25/tex… We tried to confirm what happened internally at UTMB that day that led to the censure of Alonzo’s statements. But the health science center has stonewalled the public on this issue since we started asking questions.

New thread: Kuempel is laying out SB 17, which would prohibit DEI offices, programs & trainings.

Background on committee sub:

texastribune.org/2023/05/05/tex… #txlege When laying out the bill Kuempel emphasizes this bill is to provide clarity to universities about what DEI is and isn't.

"It still supports all students and all their needs, is my intent of legislation" he says. #txlege

Today in #Txlege: The House higher ed cmte is hearing two of Dan Patrick’s senate priority bills today.

-SB 17, which would ban DEI offices and trainings

-SB 18, which would eliminate tenure.

Rep. John Kuempel is expected to provide committee substitutes for both bills. SB 17 committee sub would still ban DEI offices and trainings, but would allow a board to approve them in certain circumstances:

if the program complies with state/fed law

If a federal grant or accrediting agency requires them

texastribune.org/2023/05/05/tex…

#txlege

Thread: Texas governors choose who sits on university boards.

And Gov. Greg Abbott has continued a trend seen before — especially during the Perry years — to appoint campaign donors as regents.

Buckle up for a #tldr breakdown:

texastribune.org/2022/10/18/gre… Our analysis shows:

- 70% of appointed university regents in TX have given to Abbott since 2013

- about 30% of the appointees have given more than $100,000 each

This includes $ from spouses & regents' biz if they are founder/CEO. It excludes student regents who cannot vote.

Thread: I took a look at what kind of information Texas public universities share on their websites about reproductive healthcare.

Here’s what I found. .@UTAustin used to tell students they had multiple options when they become pregnant: keep, put up for adoption or an abortion.

After Roe was reversed, UT removed that paragraph: healthyhorns.utexas.edu/hs_pregnancy.h…

Tensions are boiling at UT-Austin over "The Eyes of Texas" school song, where students are refusing to work and a man with a gun crashed a virtual event.

NEW:

texastribune.org/2021/05/04/eye… Some context: UT-Austin officials have stood by “The Eyes” over pleas that the university distance itself from the song because it originated at a minstrel show where students likely wore Blackface.

Alumni and donors have pushed the university to keep the song.

New: UT football players were told in a meeting with athletic officials they must stay on the field for the Eyes of Texas going forward b/c donors were upset.

texastribune.org/2021/03/03/ut-… Texas players also said an athletic official told them he received emails from alumni threatening their future job prospects in TX.

Former Longhorn Caden Sterns tweeted earlier that alumni said players should look for jobs outside of TX if they didn’t participate in the Eyes.”