A recording showed an unidentified University of Texas official stating that a conservative group was not permitted to debate students on campus and that non-students aren’t allowed to be there for “First Amendment activities.”
“You’re actively engaged in expressive activity and debate. That is not allowed,” the official told Cam Higby, founder of the Fearless group that set up the debate table on October 31. “Actively, with the purpose of being here, to hold your expressive activity, to do this and hold a debate, that is not allowed.”
With police officers nearby, the official cited university policy and a new state law—Senate Bill 2972—as justification, though he clarified that “it’s not all of SB 2972” and that “our legal office has said to continue with our current policy.”
SB 2972, a 2025 law responding to 2024’s disruptive anti-Israel protests at UT-Austin and elsewhere, sought to balance political speech with public order. In October, Judge David Ezra temporarily blocked its enforcement at UT, ruling that several provisions contain unconstitutional content-based restrictions which fail strict scrutiny.
Higby stated in a post on X that he would sue UT-Austin.
On Wednesday, State Rep. Brian Harrison (R–Midlothian) wrote a letter to UT-Austin President Jim Davis demanding answers. He asked Davis to name the policies he believed Higby violated, if the university did in fact ask Higby to leave.
Harrison’s letter also included a complaint from the Young Conservatives of Texas at UT-Austin. YCT alleged that while university police and the dean of students “kicked” Higby off campus, they took no action against the Students for a Democratic Society group, which reportedly engaged in disruptive behavior against the Fearless table. Harrison wanted to know why Students for a Democratic Society was treated differently.
YCT also claimed the dean said student groups need to give almost a month’s notice in order to hold such events.
Neither UT-Austin nor the university police responded to a request for comment before publication.
UT-Austin is a component of the University of Texas System, which is overseen by a board of regents that is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Kevin Eltife is the current board chairman.
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