As Texans grapple with the left-wing takeover of the public educational system, one entrenched power center is making it clear it isn’t going anywhere without a fight.
The “faculty Senate” at the University of Texas in Austin has passed a resolution, claiming the principle of “academic freedom” to defend the teaching of critical race theory at the institution. The theory is the hotly contentious racist ideology that teaches students are inherently inferior or superior and should be punished or promoted because of the color of their skin.
The UT faculty passed the resolution at the behest of the “African American Policy Forum,” a national left-wing group. And while their “academic freedom” argument might sound compelling, dissenting finance professor Richard Lowery explains the sleight of hand.
Me opposing the UT-Austin Faculty Council resolution in support of teaching of Critical Race Theory and Critical Gender Justice or whatever, both at the university level and in K-12. The resolution opposes any democratic oversight of curriculum set by gvt bureaucrats. pic.twitter.com/a0lbU4E7Yc
— Richard Lowery (@RichardLoweryTX) February 16, 2022
Lowery calls the resolution “stunningly hypocritical” in light of the university’s “diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies.
“You guys have implemented a political test requiring adherence to critical race theory to be considered for employment and promotion, and now you’re complaining about this hypothetical threat that there might be a ban,” he said. “You can’t mandate and then complain that someone else is trying to undo your mandate.”
Lowery then goes on to discuss how the university’s interpretation of the phrase “inclusion” is, itself, a violation of academic freedom. He furthermore cites attacks on nonconformist students, such as the 2018 campaign against Young Conservatives of Texas.
“You’re promoting the idea that academic freedom is the collective right of the faculty to decide which ideas are allowed on campus, not the individual right of faculty to express their own ideas,” Lowery said.
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick also weighed in on the controversy.
I will not stand by and let looney Marxist UT professors poison the minds of young students with Critical Race Theory. We banned it in publicly funded K-12 and we will ban it in publicly funded higher ed. That’s why we created the Liberty Institute at UT. https://t.co/2W7mb3RVuN
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) February 15, 2022
While the lieutenant governor’s comments are certainly welcome, it’s impossible to overlook that the Texas Senate has confirmed every single university regent appointment during his tenure.
The subject of regent nominations drew the interest of Republican gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines:
Insane. Greg Abbott’s regents have allowed Critical Race Theory at our universities for far too long.
When I am Governor, I will root this Marxist poison out of our state. https://t.co/eNrRGnnAzp
— Don Huffines (@DonHuffines) February 16, 2022
Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott—whom Huffines hopes to replace—revealed his own higher education priorities:
Texas is the new frontier for innovation, research, & discovery!
Congratulating @UTSA & @Baylor, now among 11 Texas universities that have earned the prestigious national Carnegie Tier One research ranking. https://t.co/QH9BN4EPJ9
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) February 16, 2022
The UT faculty resolution also comes after one of Greg Abbott’s departments was recently exposed for teaching the racist ideology to state employees.
Concerned Texans can contact the University of Texas Board of Regents at (512) 499-4402 and may also e-mail the board at bor@utsystem.edu.
