By Lindsay Kornick | Fox News Published January 14, 2025 8:00pm EST
Texas A&M University pulled the brakes on an upcoming conference trip after Gov. Greg Abbott, R., discovered that only applicants of a particular race could attend.
On Monday, conservative activist Christopher Rufo posted an image of the university promoting the PhD Project’s Annual Conference in Chicago. The application specified that the conference is "designed for historically underrepresented individuals considering business doctorial studies," and only Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic American or Native American/Canadian Indigenous students were eligible.
"Texas A&M is sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference that prohibits whites and Asians from attending. The university falsely claims that this use of taxpayer funds does not violate the state's DEI ban. @TAMU is supporting racial segregation and breaking the law," Rufo wrote.
The post eventually caught Abbott’s eye late Monday, leading him to threaten the job security of the university’s president if the matter was not corrected.
"Hell, no. It’s against Texas law and violates the US Constitution. It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone," Abbott warned.
The university eventually put out a statement on its X account, reiterating that it does not discriminate based on race in compliance with SB-17, a state law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion offices in Texas public colleges.
"Texas A&M does not support any organization, conference, process or activity that excludes people based on race, creed, gender, age or any other discriminating factor. The intent of SB-17 is very clear in that regard. We will continue to honor both the letter and the intent of the law," the post read.
In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, university President Mark A. Welsh III acknowledged the application in question and conceded the conference itself was "not in line" with the state’s law, canceling the trip altogether.
"While the proper process for reviewing and approving attendance at such events was followed, I don’t believe we fully considered the spirit of our state law in making the initial decision to participate," the statement read. "This particular conference’s limitations on the acceptable race of attendees is not in line with the intent of SB-17, and, as a result, we will not be sending anyone to participate in this conference."
Welsh continued, "Texas A&M faculty and staff attend hundreds, if not thousands, of conferences and other events during the course of each academic year. We need to be sure that attendance at those events is aligned with the very clear guidance we’ve been given by our governing bodies."
The statement was sent to staff and faculty at the Mays Business School.
Q
January 14, 2025, 11:22 PM
tatortodd
Good for Gov Abbott. Hopefully, a few other governors will follow his lead on preventing state funded universities from funding and attending the national conference.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
Of all the enemies the American citizen faces, the Democrat Party is the very worst.
January 15, 2025, 08:09 AM
architect
Hold it folks! The announcement clearly says "identifies as" one of the preferred races. Since we all know you can "identify" as pretty much anything you like, this does not really exclude anyone, just switch up your identity for the duration of the conference. Nobody will ask if you are lying, hallucinating, or just off kilter, that would be racist!
Let's see a show of hands, how many SF'ers identify as proud black lesbians? Must we do a survey?
If your self-identification is intersectional enough, can you get a stipend to attend the conference? Maybe next year.
Apologies for omitting the [sarcasm][/sarcasm] tags.
IMO, the TAMU President should be fired for even contemplating such a thing! In re-reading the article, it appears that the Fox News "reporter" is reluctant to divulge the name of the TAMU President. Why would that be?
January 15, 2025, 08:14 AM
vinnybass
quote:
Originally posted by synthplayer: I think Q meant to say, nipped it in the bud - an agricultural term.
Well, it did bite them in the ass.
"We're all travelers in this world. From the sweet grass to the packing house. Birth 'til death. We travel between the eternities."
January 15, 2025, 08:20 AM
12131
quote:
Originally posted by architect: ...it appears that the Fox News "reporter" is reluctant to divulge the name of the TAMU President...
"university President Mark A. Welsh III" in the article.
quote:
Originally posted by vinnybass: Well, it did bite them in the ass.
Exactly!
Q
January 15, 2025, 09:01 AM
Aglifter
At least, in the official statement, the president implied he simply wasn’t aware of the conference - which is believable.
However, if anyone was familiar with the nature of it, they need to be terminated.
(Prior admins tried to do some serious damage to A&M. It has been hated by most of its leadership, other than Gates.)
January 15, 2025, 09:17 AM
flesheatingvirus
quote:
Canadian Indigenous
________________________________________
-- Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. --
January 15, 2025, 09:29 AM
smlsig
As an A&M graduate I can say I’m appalled by the DEI bullshit that has apparently invaded this university. Thanks Gov. Abbott for putting a stop to this BS.
If JALLEN were still with us he’d be having a field day with this (he was a UT grad).
------------------ Eddie
Our Founding Fathers were men who understood that the right thing is not necessarily the written thing. -kkina
January 15, 2025, 09:31 AM
darthfuster
You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier
January 15, 2025, 10:09 AM
229DAK
quote:
While the proper process for reviewing and approving attendance at such events was followed....
No, it wasn't.
_________________________________________________________________________ “A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.” -- Mark Twain, 1902
January 15, 2025, 06:29 PM
TigerDore
quote:
Originally posted by darthfuster:
You beat me to it.
.
January 15, 2025, 06:53 PM
DrDan
quote:
Originally posted by architect: how many SF'ers identify as proud black lesbians? Must we do a survey?
Do I get to Live Action Role Play?
This space intentionally left blank.
January 15, 2025, 06:55 PM
.38supersig
So is this their way of saying that those who (identify as black/African American or LatinX/Hispanic American or native American/Canadian indigeonous) are allowed to apply aren't as sharp as those who can't go?
They can't be for equity and equality at the same time.
January 15, 2025, 07:04 PM
BGULL
quote:
Originally posted by smlsig: As an A&M graduate I can say I’m appalled by the DEI bullshit that has apparently invaded this university. Thanks Gov. Abbott for putting a stop to this BS.
If JALLEN were still with us he’d be having a field day with this (he was a UT grad).
Centennial Class of ‘76, also agree, even Aggieland has not been immune to deterioration that has infected all our college campuses.
And JALLEN would have had a field day, while ignoring the foibles of his Alma Mater, t. U.