Texas taxpayers could soon foot the bill for free tuition and LGBT minors at two of the state’s top universities.
The University of Texas and Texas A&M University have turned their rivalry into overdrive, but this time, it has nothing to do with football. Instead, these top colleges in Texas seem to be fighting for which one can “out-woke” the other faster.
Traditionally, Texas A&M has always portrayed itself as the saner of the two universities, with its agriculture connection and Texas country flare. It has recently followed in its “weird” Austin cousin’s footsteps, however, by embracing left-wing ideologies like LGBT minors.
Texas A&M offers “Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies,” “Queer Theory,” “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Literatures,” and “Aesthetics of Activism” as part of the courses students can take to earn their minor in LGBT studies.
Republican Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison called on Texas A&M, which receives funding from the state, to end these programs earlier in 2024. Harrison announced Friday, however, that his office has confirmed that despite the university’s promise to end the minor, it will continue to offer these courses at the taxpayer’s expense.
🚨BREAKING: TEXAS A&M TO CONTINUE ALL “LGBTQ STUDIES” COURSES.
My office confirmed that, despite promising to end the LGBTQ Minor, they will not end a single course.
Insane!
Our public universities are for education, not leftist indoctrination.
Developing.#txlege @TAMU pic.twitter.com/1b1nCO0SWm
— Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) November 22, 2024
Not to be outdone by Texas A&M, the University of Texas (UT) recently proposed a policy to give free tuition to families making up to $100,000 a year. UT also receives funding from the state. Harrison warned that this would increase the tax burden for every Texan, whether they receive the tuition break or not.
Several state lawmakers joined Harrison in signing a letter demanding UT answer how the free tuition program is constitutional.
“[S]ince the regents appear to believe the UT System has excess funding sufficient to provide ‘free’ tuition to families making $100k/year, does the UT System plan on asking for a reduction in state funding in the next budget?” the letter asked.
Letter to UT Regents by Mary Rooke on Scribd
“Texas has a reputation for leading in individual liberty, freedom and limited government. But for too long, we have been coasting on that reputation instead of living up to it. Leftists have been put in charge of our public universities, and the inmates are now running the asylum and abusing tax dollars to push liberal propaganda instead of educating the next generation. I’ve had it and will be demanding accountability and budget cuts to force change,” Harrison told the Daily Caller.
Budget cuts will affect these universities, according to their cry for taxpayer help published in the Texas Tribune. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott demanded that the state’s colleges abide by a tuition freeze to address the rising cost of college tuition.
The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association reported that the Texas legislature allocated $13.7 billion to higher education for the 2024 fiscal year. Part of the funds was contingent on these universities abiding by two new Texas state laws that ban diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities and give the state government more oversight of tenured professors.
Texans should realize that the left’s control over higher education did not stay in blue states run by Democrats but has quietly settled in at their top institutions.
