Robert Albritton, the chair of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, has donated $5,000 to Matt Authier, a candidate for state representative in Ellis County. Authier is challenging incumbent State Rep. Brian Harrison (R–Midlothian) in the Republican primary.
Harrison, a 2004 TAMU graduate, has been a prominent critic of Aggie leadership during Albritton’s tenure.
In September, former TAMU President Mark Welsh stepped down following a public uproar sparked by his handling of a children’s literature course that included instruction on introducing LGBT and gender identity materials to children as young as three.
Welsh’s departure followed years of reporting on the governance of A&M and public scrutiny after Harrison released a recording of a student objecting to the curriculum and subsequent allegations that the student was kicked out of class for expressing concerns about transgender indoctrination. Initially, Welsh defended the professor involved, but he later reversed course, firing the instructor and removing the department head and dean from their posts.
Welsh had a history of long-standing support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, both during his tenure as president and beforehand, when he led the Bush School of Government and Public Service. Under his leadership, DEI programs were expanded and mandatory training sessions were introduced, amplifying scrutiny and fueling calls for change even before the latest classroom scandal.
Despite this history, Albritton supported Welsh’s initial hire and continued employment, until the former president became politically untenable.
The November 11 donation occurred approximately two months after Welsh’s departure.
Texas A&M University-College Station is a component institution of the Texas A&M University System. It is overseen by a Board of Regents appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Albritton is the current board chairman.
Texas House District 10 covers Ellis County. The Republican primary will be held March 3.
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