In a significant move, Texas State University has dismissed a history professor over comments made at a socialism conference, which the university deemed as “advocating for violence.” This decision adds to the growing trend of professors being fired for holding views that don’t align with conservative stances, especially following political pressures.
The controversy erupted after Texas Scorecard, a conservative news outlet, released a recording where the professor spoke passionately about the necessity of organized resistance. He stated, “Without organization, how can anyone expect to overthrow the most bloodthirsty, profit-driven, mad organization in the history of the world, that of the U.S. government?” This triggered swift action from the university.
On Wednesday, President Kelly Damphousse publicly condemned the statements, explaining that he learned about them during a virtual conference over the weekend. He expressed zero tolerance for such remarks. An investigation was announced, stating that the university would look further into the incident.
After reviewing the statements in question, Damphousse concluded that the actions constituted significant “professional and personal misconduct.” He explained that the remarks were essentially calls to incite violence, leading him to decide that the professor’s behavior was incompatible with the duties expected of a faculty member at the university.
Although the professor had tenure—a status typically protects academics from sudden dismissal—a new Texas law, Senate Bill 18, allows university presidents to terminate professors under various circumstances, including defined “good cause” or moral issues.
Before his dismissal, a now-unavailable biography listed on Texas State’s website noted that the professor specialized in the study of protest movements, capitalism, labor, and race from a global perspective.
The Revolutionary Socialism Conference, where his remarks took place, focused on the theories and application of revolutionary socialist ideas.
This firing came just a day after Texas A&M University let go of another professor who taught about gender identity in a children’s literature class, reportedly under direct orders from Governor Greg Abbott. These actions raised alarms among various free speech organizations.
In response, the Texas Conference of American Association of University Professors released a statement warning that if students aren’t exposed to diverse perspectives in academia, they might seek educational opportunities in other states. They also stressed the chilling effect on faculty who fear government influence on their teaching.
Stay updated with Austin American-Statesman newsletters here
Check out the original article on statesman.com
