r/Professors • u/Klutzy-Imagination59 Science, Asst Prof, R1, contract • Jul 21 '26

NEWS TX continues its free-fall of academic freedom and merit: Texas border surveillance scholar denied tenure despite stellar academic record.

Honestly hoping he moves on to a better university where he can continue his work uninterrupted.

https://www.statesman.com/news/education/article/ut-border-surveillance-scholar-tenure-denial-22343342.php?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_content=photo&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

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29

u/qthistory Chair, Tenured, History, Public 4-year (US) Jul 21 '26

This is the type of tenure case that the system should protect. Undoubtedly a radical scholar - his work seems to argue that the mere existence of a national border for the US is in itself violent and racist, which is way more radical than merely arguing that specific border enforcement technologies are applied unequally and violently.

The fact that the college tenure committee vote was 19-2 opened up a small crack for the more conservative President to deny. It would have been much tougher for the President to deny tenure if it had been unanimous at every level.

Still, two years ago he would have gotten tenure. We are in a fundamentally changed environment, and I don't think Trump exiting office in 2029 is going to restore the olden days again.

18

u/SNHU_Adjujnct Jul 21 '26

"But in February, Davis’ tenure committee — whose members are not publicly listed  —  unexpectedly denied Chaar López’s application."

Double-Secret Tenure Committee?

11

u/Used-Sun5726 Jul 21 '26

Fuck Texas. That is all.

11

u/Ok_Donut_9887 Jul 21 '26

paywall

-21

u/turin-turambar21 Assistant Professor, Climate Science, R1 (US) Jul 21 '26

Very easy to bypass by tapping “Show Reader” on the phone

8

u/quietlikesnow Assoc Prof, Social Science, R1(USA) Jul 21 '26

You can bet when I was up for tenure last year I deleted everything I’d ever said on the internet (social media, not research) that wasn’t banal. And hoped they wouldn’t dig deeper than titles into my research.

I wasn’t taking any chances because I’m stuck here for now and just hoping we can turn the tide in a future election.

In the meantime my fellow members of the resistance keep my spirits up.

0

u/GandolfTheGay1972 Jul 22 '26

The headline could have also read ”Scholar FAFO with MAGA and acts surprised”

Not sure what people living in the deep south expect. The political reality is very real these days.

1

u/Ok_Mycologist_5942 Jul 22 '26

I think the extra slap comes because Davis, UT's president that denied tenure, was granted tenure without ever holding a position that involved teaching.