April 10, 2024

STATEMENT OF GARY BLEDSOE, NAACP STATE PRESIDENT

We are proud to be here with our great friends and allies, the Texas Legislative Black Caucus under the leadership of Chairman Ron Reynolds and the Texas State Conference of AAUP led by its newly elected President Dr. Brian Evans, a professor at the University of Texas along with my good friend and a friend of the people, Representative Gina Hinojosa and another good friend  who sits on the House Higher Education Committee, Representative Cheryl Cole.  Here are some important things we know at this point.

First, in the bill and in the floor debate the bill sponsor promised that programs for students would not be eliminated.  Today we know of at least six such programs that have been eliminated:

Center for Equity and Inclusion/Center for Access and Restorative Engagement

Diversity Education/Leadership and Dialogue

Gender and Sexuality Center/Women’s Community Center

Inclusive Campus Support/Initiatives for Campus Support

Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Longhorn Center for Academic Excellence/Center for Leadership and Training

Each of these programs had been reviewed prior to January 1^st and was continued by the University.  They did not involve any of the types of training prohibited by SB17.  The changes were made to their curriculum and approved before the programs were permitted to move forward.  The programs where you see 2 names are those where changes were required.  Nothing was found to be a problem involving the Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship program.

Second we have 58 confirmed names of persons who have received their pink slips but have good reason to believe the number will probably double.  As you might imagine the ones we have talked with are shocked and devastated. 

Third, because we know that promises were made during the House Debate that no one would lose employment we are greatly concerned over what has happened.  This concern is heightened because during the debate the University had identified 62 persons in such positions, but the numbers that we believe have received pink slips is greatly in excess of that number.  In addition, each of the positions had either been originally pre-cleared prior to the Januaray 1^st implementation date, or were modified and thereafter approved prior to the January 1^st implementation date.  All of the positions were determined to be both in compliance with SB17 and essential to the University.

Fourth, when the University reduced its top 10% obligation to 6 percent it made assurances that it would continue and recruit in underserved areas and also in rural areas.  There was not a racial component to this but it was a promise made to the Black Caucus and others.  Many employees in this program have been let go or reassigned, and when reassigned some have been reassigned to different departments. 

Finally, The systematic elimination of important positions because of SB17 and the Creighton letter is itself an act of First Amendment retaliation and likely discrimination, and it will only serve to dumb down the University because it will possibly cause the loss of substantial research funds, negatively impact its accreditation and standing in the national academic community, and discourage talented students, faculty and staff from coming to UT-Austin.  Students don’t learn in a vacuum.  The resources that were being provided and that are now being cut are the result of extensive and peer reviewed academic research and study, and all of the programs developed as a result of it are being destroyed willy nilly.  

“Consider that virtually overnight UT-Austin has gone from a champion player in the higher education eco-system to a minor-leaguer. Sadly, the damage is self-inflicted. All of the programs that have systematically and inappropriately been eliminated aimed to promote student and faculty excellence, success, and support in a university that has a history of discrimination. UT-Austin has rolled up the welcome mat for underrepresented students and faculty across racial and gender identification lines. It will be the big loser of that much talent going elsewhere. And the exodus already has begun.”

We will continue to work with the many persons who have been victimized by this illegal and inhumane action.  It is our hope that each affected person will reach out to the Texas AAUP.  I will be providing a letter of guidance for individuals who may be  They can also reach out to us.