Here’s what to know about the Texas Tech University System in Lubbock
Tasked to oversee tens of thousands of students, faculty, and staff at five public universities, here’s what you need to know about the Texas Tech System.
LUBBOCK, Texas — A well-known First Amendment advocacy group — Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) — is asking the Texas Tech University System to reconsider implementing its teaching restrictions on gender and race topics.
For context, the TTU System implemented new standards for reviewing course material deemed controversial by state and federal law earlier in the month — particularly regarding gender, race and LGBT topics at its five universities in Texas.
The restrictions stem from recently passed Texas law — Senate Bill 37 during the 89th Texas Legislative Session — which was authored by then-Sen. Brandon Creighton, who is now the chancellor of the TTU System.
The bill empowers politically appointed governing boards, like the Board of Regents of the TTU System, to review course material to see if it’s in compliance with recent bans on diversity, equity and inclusion and gender identity topics.
However, FIRE Faculty Legal Defense Fund Fellow for Campus Advocacy Graham Piro issued the following statement:
“The Texas Tech memo unconstitutionally singles out specific viewpoints on these topics, implying that faculty members must adhere to the state’s line on these issues–and that dissenters face punishment. The memo is also so broadly worded that an overzealous administration could easily punish a professor who seeks to provoke arguments in class or advocates outside the classroom for changes to curricula that reflect developments in teaching. “
“The language in the memo parallels Florida’s Stop WOKE Act. There, a court rightfully halted the enforcement of aspects of the legislation after FIRE sued to defend faculty rights in the state. The court noted that such restrictions on faculty content were “positively dystopian” and banned professors from expressing certain viewpoints in the classroom.“
“Decades ago, the Supreme Court recognized that the First Amendment “does not tolerate laws that cast a pall of orthodoxy over the classroom.” It instead wrote that “truth” is discovered not by “authoritative selection,” but “out of a multitude of tongues.” These principles are timeless, and Texas Tech should not compromise them, no matter the political winds of the day.“
FIRE also stated that it is leaving all options open and seeing how officials respond to their letters.
Mateo Rosiles is a reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and USA TODAY Network in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@lubbockonline.com.
