Austin, TX
Texas ban on university diversity efforts provides glimpse of future across GOP-led states – Maryland Daily Record
AUSTIN, Texas — The dim lighting and vacant offices were the first clues.
Other changes struck Nina Washington, a senior at the University of Texas, when she returned to her favorite study spot from winter break. The words “Multicultural Center” had been taken off the wall, erasing an effort begun in the late 1980s to serve historically marginalized communities on campus. The center’s staff members were gone, its student groups dissolved.
“Politics, behaviors and emotions are returning to the old ways,” said Washington, who as a Black woman found a sense of community at the center.
The void in the heart of the nearly 52,000-student campus is one of many changes rippling across college campuses in Texas, where one of the nation’s most sweeping bans on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives took effect Jan. 1.
At least five other states have passed their own bans and Republican lawmakers in at least 19 states are pursuing various restrictions on diversity initiatives, an issue they hope will mobilize their voters this election year.
With over 600,000 students enrolled at more than 30 public universities across the state, the rollout in Texas offers a large-scale glimpse of what lies ahead for public higher education without the initiatives designed to make minorities feel less isolated and white students more prepared for careers that require working effectively with people of different backgrounds.
At the University of Texas’ flagship campus in Austin, the state’s second most populous public university, only 4.5% of the student population is Black and 25.2% is Hispanic, numbers some students fear will drop as they struggle to adjust in an atmosphere of fear about what they can say and do.
The law signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott bans public higher education institutions from influencing hiring practices with respect to race, sex, color or ethnicity, and prohibits promoting “differential” or “preferential” treatment or “special” benefits for people based on these categories. Also forbidden are training and activities conducted “in reference to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.”
Republican state Sen. Brandon Creighton, who authored the bill, said in an emailed comment Tuesday that DEI efforts claim they are meant to increase diversity, “but after close examination, they are an effort to inject politics and promote cancel-culture into our colleges and universities.”
Time will tell. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, whose nine members are appointed by the governor, is required to inform lawmakers every two years about the ban’s impact on admissions, academic progress and graduation rates of students by race, sex and ethnicity.
To comply with the law, the cultural identity centers that admissions offices promoted to attract minorities are now closed. University websites have scrubbed out references to “diversity” and “inclusion,” replacing them with “access” and “community engagement.” Staff have been reassigned to new roles.
“People want to keep their jobs, but many of us were trained to do this work around diversity, inclusion and equity and were hired specifically to do that,” said Patrick Smith, vice president of the Texas Faculty Association.
Professors are fearful, editing their syllabi and watching their speech, as they navigate the boundaries of compliance, Smith said.
As for the multicultural center in the student union on the Austin campus, the university announced it will consider how best to use the space “to continue building community for all Longhorns.”
Meanwhile, although the law explicitly exempts academics, uncertainty over its scope also has professors and students wondering how to comply.
“To know that your speech is monitored and basically censored if you do the kind of work that I do, that is a strange feeling,” said Karma Chavez, a professor of Mexican American and Latino/a Studies at the university.
The Hispanic Faculty Association, of which Chavez is the co-president, has been prohibited from meeting during working hours or using campus spaces without paying a fee. They can’t even communicate through university email, and groups affiliated with the university cannot co-sponsor events with them.
The limits have Chavez catching herself in meetings or when mentoring a student before she speaks on race or ethnicity, because she is unsure of what she can say and when.
“I don’t think I am self-censoring, I think I have been censored by the state legislature,” Chavez said.
University officials shuttered a group aimed at providing resources for students who qualified for the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Chavez said the DACA group wasn’t specifically helping any of the classifications of people, so “it tells you how widely, how extensively they are interpreting the law.”
Some student groups whose university funding has been prohibited are struggling with the financial burden of maintaining their identity communities and continuing cultural traditions.
University of Texas senior Christian Mira, financial officer for the Queer Trans Black Indigenous People Of Color Agency, said the group lost its space in the multicultural center and has been aggressively fundraising through alumni, local supporters and community outreach. They hope to keep supporting a lively community of students with signature events including a block party, leadership institutes and a ball, although they’re not sure where.
“College is already a difficult experience, so having people around you who you depend on to have that kind of community — it made students feel safe, it made students feel like they could succeed on campus,” Mira said.
Alexander De Jesus, who attends UT-Dallas and is an advocate with Texas Students for DEI, said they prepared for months in ways big and small, such as more clearly advertising that anyone can use a closet of clothes frequented by students who are transitioning.
“It has also been stressful telling other students, ‘Hey, keep your head up,’” De Jesus said. “It is difficult to say that when you see a climate of fear developing and when you see people who are justifiably angered about traditional pathways or politics or people not listening to them.”
Acacia Coronado reports for The Associated Press.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Jack Sawyer #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball after recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Ar
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Texas Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday night.
Ohio State will go on to play Notre Dame in the national championship later this month.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: The Texas Longhorns huddle before the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Fourth quarter:
Ohio State answered first in the fourth quarter. They took the lead 21-14 with less than eight minutes left in the game.
Texas marched down the field but came up empty-handed.
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was sacked, leading to a fumble. Ohio State recovered the ball and ran it back for an 83-yard touchdown.
Ohio State now leads 28-14 with less than three minutes left.
With Texas’ first drive back, Ewers was intercepted.
Ohio State wins the Cotton Bowl Classic 28-14 over the Texas Longhorns
Third quarter:
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard threw an interception during their first drive of the quarter. Texas was unable to answer.
With less than four minutes left in the third, Texas tied the game 14-14.
Second quarter:
To start the second quarter, Texas fumbled the ball twice, but recovered the ball both times.
Ohio State had several penalties, keeping them from marching up the field.
Texas tied the game 7-7 with less than a minute left in the first half.
Ohio State answered back with a 75-yard run for a touchdown. Ohio State took the lead again, 14-7, to end the first half.
First quarter:
Ohio State won the coin toss and deferred for the second half. The Longhorns will have the ball first.
Texas was unable to score on their first possession of the game. Ohio State now has the ball.
Ohio State is on the board first. Texas trails 7-0.
To end the first quarter, Ohio State had the lead 7-0.
Texas vs Ohio State: How to watch, stream
- Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
- Where: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
- Date: Friday, Jan. 10
- Time: 6:30 p.m. (CT)
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN, DirecTV, Hulu with Live TV, Fubo, YouTube TV (with subscription)
Match-ups to Watch
Quarterbacks
Neither quarterback in this game is a stranger to playing in Arlington.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and Ewers both won Big 12 championships the last time they played at AT&T Stadium.
Texas won the Big 12 in its last season in the conference last year. Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State. He led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship win over then-undefeated TCU two years ago.
Stopping Smith
The best match-up of the game could be Texas All-American senior cornerback Jahdae Barron vs. standout Buckeyes freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith. Barron won the Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back. But Barron gives up four inches and 15 pounds to Smith, the second-team All-American who may be the most electric freshman in the country. Smith has 70 receptions for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith has four touchdowns in these playoffs.
College Football Playoff National Championship
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Texas Longhorns/Ohio State Buckeyes
- Date: Monday, January 20
- Time: 7:30 P.M. (CT)
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Associated Press, the College Football Playoff and past FOX 7 coverage.
The Sports Office: Jan. 6, 2025
FOX 7 Austin’s Dennis de la Pena and producer Julian Martinez talk about the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes!
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes will face off in Arlington, Texas on Friday in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
The winner of the game between Texas (13-2) and Ohio State (12-2) will go on to play Notre Dame in the national championship.
Texas vs Ohio State: How to watch, stream
- Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
- Where: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
- Date: Friday, Jan. 10
- Time: 6:30 p.m. (CT)
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN, DirecTV, Hulu with Live TV, Fubo, YouTube TV (with subscription)
Key Players
Quarterback matchup
Neither quarterback in this game is a stranger to playing in Arlington.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and Ewers both won Big 12 championships the last time they played at AT&T Stadium.
Texas won the Big 12 in its last season in the conference last year. Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State. He led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship win over then-undefeated TCU two years ago.
Stopping Smith
The best matchup of the game could be Texas All-American senior cornerback Jahdae Barron vs. standout Buckeyes freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith. Barron won the Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back. But Barron gives up four inches and 15 pounds to Smith, the second-team All-American who may be the most electric freshman in the country. Smith has 70 receptions for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith has four touchdowns in these playoffs.
Predictions
- Pick Against the Spread: Texas (+6)
- Pick Over/Under: Under (53.5)
- Prediction: Ohio State 27, Texas 22
Predictions are made by the Data Skrive betting model.
FOX Sports Analyst Joel Klatt went with Ohio State in his prediction for the Cotton Bowl. Klatt says the Buckeyes are playing the best football in the country right now and the fact that the game is being played in Texas is keeping the line (Texas +6) lower than it should be.
- Klatt: Ohio State 35 – Texas 21
National Championship Game
The winner of the Longhorns and Buckeyes game will take on Notre Dame in the championship game.
The game will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the Longhorns played in the SEC Championship and against Arizona State in the College football playoff.
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Texas Longhorns/Ohio State Buckeyes
- Date: Monday, January 20
- Time: 7:30 P.M. (CT)
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
The Source: Information in this article comes from the College Football Playoff, the Associated Press and FOX Sports.
TEXAS — The 89th Texas Legislature will start on Jan. 14 with 181 lawmakers.
The House of Representatives’ organization will be managed by Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, who will also select temporary officers. The Secretary leads until a Speaker of the House is elected.
Secretary Nelson announced that Walter Fisher and Sharon Carter were appointed as parliamentarians for the House’s session inauguration.
“This is a duo with extensive parliamentary knowledge and the experience to guide the opening of the 89th Legislative Session,” said Secretary Nelson. “With the support of these individuals, we will make sure the organizing of the House is a fair, transparent and orderly process.”
The 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives and the 31 members of the Texas Senate will be sworn in as the 89th Legislature on Tuesday. The legislature will meet until June 2.
You are able to watch the Senate proceedings on opening day at this website.
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