Texas A&M Requires Approval For Saying 'Race,' Not 'Don't Say Gay'
Texas A&M's new policy mandates presidential approval for academic courses tackling 'race or gender ideology, or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity,' claiming it's to avoid 'advocacy.' This isn't just about a viral video; it's the latest step in a calculated political strategy. For years, groups like the Texas Public Policy Foundation, funded by conservative dark money
networks, have pushed for legislative bans on what they label 'critical race theory' and 'DEI' initiatives. Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 17 in 2023, effectively gutting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across state universities, often citing 'divisive concepts'—terminology suspiciously absent when discussing the historical whitewashing of Texas's own past. One might wonder if academic
rigor truly requires a bureaucratic gauntlet for discussing systemic inequalities, while the history of slavery or indigenous displacement can be taught without concern for 'ideology.' It appears some ideologies are more equal—and more approved—than others. The chilling effect on genuine scholarship, critical thinking, and the free exchange of ideas is, presumably, the point.