A Veterans Day Instagram post from the University of Texas’ official account has ignited shock across the Lone Star State.
The post, which is ostensibly about helping veterans integrate back into civilian life, links to an article by professor Avrel Seale about university services for student veterans. Entitled “Turning the Page,” it discusses “Helping student veterans get past ‘bro culture.’”
View this post on Instagram
The linked article continues:
But the community that vets need is not the type they may be used to, what Larson and Gunderson both characterize as “bro culture.” When Larson arrived as an undergraduate in 2013, she found that male student veterans were more interested in hitting on their female counterparts than creating actual community with them.
One afternoon shortly after coming to UT, Gunderson met with members of a UT women veterans group. “I proceeded to get chewed out for two hours about what a disaster it was, because there is an ultramasculine, sometimes misogynistic, mindset in the military with some males, and it had become a little bit of that in the office,” he remembers.
The article in question stands in stark contrast to other activities promoted by the university over Veterans Day weekend. The Longhorn football game on Saturday featured a patriotic flyover, honors for veterans, and video board messages from Longhorn alumni serving overseas.
In addition, UT President Jay Hartzell posted to X about being “eternally grateful to all veterans.”
We are eternally grateful to all veterans and to our staff, faculty, students and alumni who have served our country. As the top university in Texas for veterans, @UTAustin takes great pride in ensuring veterans and military-affiliated students are supported at every step of… pic.twitter.com/sDFZC4UGGt
— Jay Hartzell (@JCHartzell) November 11, 2024
Texas Scorecard reached out to the University of Texas for comment but had not received a reply by publication time.
The University of Texas is overseen by a Board of Regents that is appointed by Gov. Abbott and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Concerned Texans may contact the UT Board of Regents at (512) 499-4402 or via email at bor@utsystem.edu.
