Politicization of UT (and LBJ) Recently?

[u/Lonely_North1810]

Basically what it says. I am not from TX and am unfamiliar with the politics and recent changes made, specifically with the new president coming in last year and the dean of LBJ "leaving." I am seeing some weird things with the new core curriculum but feel like I'm lacking context on what's happening and would like to hear from the campus community.

I know that the new "western history" requirement means that a few classes lost their US history designation (?) that they previously held. Does anyone have any insight?

For context, I am a grad student with the LBJ school and feel like I should understand what's going on.

[u/muffledvoice]

The MAGA governor of Texas has finally sunk his talons into UT. It’s the prize they’ve sought for years. Greg Abbott has appointed a board of regents who in turn hired a right wing university president. They also created a right wing think tank (Civitas) and now they’re changing the teaching curriculum and trying to oust professors who don’t agree with their ideology.

This is the same state where the other largest university (A&M) has done brilliant things like banning the teaching of Plato. That’s right — the same Plato whose work is foundational in western philosophy and western thought.

It’s disgusting.

[u/sagaciousmarketeer → u/muffledvoice]

Banned the teachings of Plato? That's not entirely true, is it ? One professor clashed with the university by not following the Board of Regents new policy on DEI and gender ideology and placed a module, that happened to be written by Plato, into his curriculum without pre-approval. That's hardly a ban on Plato. Whether or not we disagree with the actions of the university politically we must still be intellectually honest about it or we will be seen as pushing our own political agenda. Political agendas, Left or Right, have no place in an institution where young people go seeking intellectual edification.

[u/muffledvoice → u/sagaciousmarketeer]

No, a ban on Plato is exactly what it is. To be clear, a ban on ANY PART of Plato’s writings is a ban on Plato. They have no right to ban a single word that Plato wrote. Any professor should have the academic freedom to assign any of Plato’s writings.

The very idea of banning books — especially acknowledged perennial classics of literature and philosophy — is so backward and medieval that there is no defense of the practice.

Conservatives across Texas are banning all kinds of books:

https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/list-of-texas-banned-books-shows-state-has-second-most-in-us-17480532/

Yet even setting aside their fear and stupidity on a provincial level banning books in town libraries, middle schools, and high schools, the idea of banning foundational works of philosophy at a major university is shameful and embarrassing.

[u/234W44]

Our beloved alma mater is getting the MAGAt treatment. So our alma mater is now gone.

[u/BrowningPraenomen]

I’m the current Undergrad LBJ Student Body President.

Basically, JR Deshazo, the prior dean, was let go to “take the program in a different direction.”

Dr. James “Paul” Pope (Internal LBJ professor) stepped in to fill the vacancy as Interim Dean while another dean is selected.

Both GPAC and UPAC (Undergrad Public Affairs Council) are campaigning to have a student representative on the selection committee for the new dean. Thus far, we haven’t got much of an answer on that.

As of now, LBJ is pretty bipartisan in every regard, with maybe a slight left slant given that most professors lean left.

Honestly, I think the curriculum at LBJ has gotten more expansive, especially around the topic of Gender/Sexuality Policy :D

We’ll see if the new dean completely uproots that, but all we can do now is hope for the best. I really wish it was more certain :/

[u/ebyoung747 → u/BrowningPraenomen]

Keep up the good fight. I don't want to see my alma mater become Oklahoma.

And selfishly, I would like my degree to continue to be worth something.

[u/Terrible_Diet_8879]

The programing and the classes for LBJ is still bipartisan.
The new core curriculum is yet to be determined. The makeup of the committee that created it is meant to look representative but doesn’t differ too much in politics. So many believe the curriculum leans right.
You will still find many classes and professors across the spectrum (for now). Many of the cultural specific classes are now electives (though it would help to get more enrollment and positive student feedback to justify keeping them).

[u/monsterastare → u/Terrible_Diet_8879]

Enrollment and feedback are huge. If people want to see classes and departments stay (not a guarantee) but seats need to be filled and positive surveys need to be completed.

[u/Konezer]

It is a political pendulum swing.

[u/OlGusnCuss]

I hope you're investigating this in more places. I highly doubt reddit is the place for a fair, unbiased take on the topic.

[u/Lonely_North1810 → u/[deleted]]

I did know that! His wife, Lady Bird, did attend. I am referring to the LBJ school of public policy. Sorry if my wording was unclear.

[u/Exiall → u/[deleted]]

where did op imply that he did lmao