As the midterms come to a close in Texas, key state positions held by Republicans for over 30 years have been flipped in the blue wave sweeping the U.S. UTD faculty have taken notice.
On Oct. 23, the UTD chapter of the American Association of University Professors called on university officials to respond to their open letter to discuss the ongoing core curriculum review process — AAUP UTD asked to receive a response by Oct. 28. After a full week of silence, UTD-AAUP has issued a second letter.
“You’re a week late to respond to this email, and you have failed to show faculty the respect of a reply,” UTD-AAUP wrote. “But yesterday, Texans in large majorities voted decisively across the state for leaders who want to invest in education and educators–leaders who want to preserve and defend the public educational system that once made this state great, leaders who reject the strongman, black-box politics of crude destruction.”
Republican attacks on higher education in Texas for the past few years had led to the end of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at UTD, repression of student First Amendment rights, the persecution of LGBTQ+ students and the start of a process to remove courses covering topics like gender and cultural studies from the university’s curriculum. As a public university, UTD has answered to the state government and its Republican officials, but Democratic victories in key Texas races like the senate, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, railroad commissioner, agriculture commissioner and the Texas house of representatives, have fundamentally altered who UTD answers to politically.
“In that spirit, we pose a question that you are surely scrambling to figure out: what is the status of your plans for cuts in Core Curriculum now?” UTD-AAUP wrote.
Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa dedicated the first part of her election-night victory speech to public education and how it has been under fire in Texas.
“I never set out to be a politician,” Hinojosa said. “I’m a mom. A mom who loves her children. Who believes in their teachers. And who believes in Texas public schools. And when I saw my child’s school under threat, I did what any Texas mom would do. I fought back. I ran for the school board. Because I wanted my child, and every Texas child, to have the opportunity to succeed.”
UTD-AAUP echoed this hopeful sentiment for change at the public university level in their follow-up email to UTD officials.
“Last night, voters in North Texas proved that we can bring power back to the people,” UTD-AAUP wrote. “We call on you to join this inspiring current of democracy by re-engaging with faculty in shared governance and defending the academic freedom that strengthens our institution.”
The Retrograde reached out repeatedly to UTD for comment about the initial letter, the chapter’s demands and the post midterm followup letter. As of publication, UTD officials did not reply.
In response to UTD-AAUP’s letter, Student Government President and neuroscience senior David Baker supported calls for change on campus.
“I also look forward to working with the administration to improve the university,” Baker said.
UTD-AAUP closed its statement with an open offer to work with university administration to restore academic freedom at UTD.
“If and when you decide to follow the leadership of the people — the faculty that power this university — we will be here, ready to work together for the sake of our institution, students and community,” UTD-AAUP wrote. “Our numbers will keep growing.”