Gov. Greg Abbott admitted in an X post on Sunday that Texas is purging professors with “leftist ideologies” — and people are not happy.
Abbott’s directive fits into a pattern of faculty changes and government interference on campuses across the state, including the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and Texas State University.
“Texas is targeting professors who are more focused on pushing leftist ideologies rather than preparing students to lead our nation,” Abbott wrote in his post. “We must end indoctrination and return to education fundamentals at all levels of education.”
September saw the firing of a professor and resignation of the president at Texas A&M over a lecture that included gender ideology, as well as the termination of a Texas State professor for remarks at a socialist convention. And the increasing political interference in higher education has prompted many professors to look for jobs in different states, the Texas Tribune reported in September.
Art Markman, senior vice provost for academic affairs at UT Austin, was fired from his role in mid-September, and replaced with an interim leader. It’s become a trend at UT: one-third of their dean positions are currently held by interim or departing leaders, and the school was appointed a new president and provost over the summer with little faculty input, according to the Austin-American Statesman.
In a LinkedIn post last week, Markman told colleagues that he was removed from the role “due to ideological differences.”
The shakeups have sparked an outcry from students and faculty who see the terminations as an assault on free speech.
Online, replies included earnest declarations that Abbott’s actions are unAmerican and violations of the First Amendment, as well as gifs, outrage, and claims of corruption.
One woman commented on Abbott’s post: “This is a good quote for this professor’s lawsuit.”
“In a dictatorship, you can have only one ideology,” wrote one X user.
“The head of our state government openly saying he wants to root out opposing viewpoints is the definition of fascism,” said another.
“I don’t want the government involved at all in determining what is or isn’t an acceptable ideology for a professor,” former Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, who is from Illinois, posted on X. “I don’t want the government targeting professors of any ideology.”
Abbott’s confirmation of the ideological firings on Sunday was in response to Markman’s claim, but his post makes it clear that the trend extends beyond UT Austin.
Thomas Alter, the Texas State professor who was also fired recently, was accused of advocating for “inciting violence” after a video of him speaking at an online socialism conference was circulated. He filed a lawsuit, and a court reinstated him — but then the university fired him again.
Texas A&M professor, Melissa McCoul, was fired in September as well, after a video of her teaching gender ideology in an upper-level children’s literature course went viral on social media. The video eventually led to A&M President Mark Welsh to step down from his role after harsh criticism of the situation.
Mark Zoran, a former head in the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas A&M University, and Emily Johansen, a former English department head at Texas A&M University, were also fired.
Texas students and professors have not been silent in the face of the new trend, however. Texas State students and faculty gathered to protest less than 24 hours after Alter’s firing, holding signs reading “uphold the constitution” and “protect free speech”, according to The University Star.
“I think (Alter’s termination) is a travesty, and I think we’re heading into very dangerous territories,” Texas State Philosophy professor Eric Crawford said to The Star. “I think the Texas State administration is upholding tyranny.”
A similar sentiment was seen at UT Austin last week, as nearly 200 students took to the streets to protest in favor of free speech, after the Trump administration invited the school to join a compact offering funding advantages in exchange for capping international students and strictly defining gender. UT officials were said to be “enthusiastically” reviewing the proposal, according to the Texas Tribune.
Students chanted “do not sign” as they protested the compact last week, according to The Daily Texan.
“This is clearly a continuation of a trend in Texas higher education, of professors being targeted and persecuted for their speech,” UT student Kira Small said to the Daily Texan. “It’s horrifying.”
