In early August, a federal lawsuit was filed against the Texas University System Board of Regents by the American Association of University Professors on behalf of four faculty members from Texas A&M University and one Tarleton University professor who claim restrictions on course content violate their First Amendment and free-speech rights.
“The Censorship Policy imposes a complete prohibition, in all core curriculum courses, on courses ‘advocat[ing for]’ particular disfavored views of race or gender, or any topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity, … disfavored viewpoints of race or gender or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited,” the complaint says.
Aaron George, assistant professor at Tarleton University, a complainant in the lawsuit, has been ordered to alter his syllabus to exclude the books A Gay Manifesto and White Flight Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism to meet policy requirements about discussing race and sexual orientation.
A statement from the AAUP quotes University Rule 12.01.99.M1 Section 2.1, saying, “Each faculty member is entitled to full freedom in the classroom in discussing the subject being taught. Within the bounds of professional behavior, faculty members also have full freedom to express disagreement with other members of the university community.”
Many institutions have reported forced investigations and changes in their programming, funding, housing, classrooms, admissions and enrollment. But according to The Texas Tribune, Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, told a conservative radio show host that, “The [Texas] governor and lieutenant governor and speaker have been telling everybody for two years now that we passed bans on DEI and transgender indoctrination in public universities. The only little problem with that? It’s a complete lie. There is no state law that we passed.”
Still, Melissa McCoul, a senior lecturer in Texas A&M’s English department, is also suing the Texas A&M University System after she was fired and accused of pushing “personal political agenda” on students when she discussed issues related to gender identity in a class on children’s literature.
