Student Government unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday in response to comments made by Republican nominee for Railroad Commissioner Bo French, about the number of South Asian students at a UT football game.
Authors of the resolution said they wanted SG and UT’s administration to affirm their support for South Asian students and condemn French’s remarks. The nonbinding resolution, titled “In Support of South Asian Students at The University of Texas at Austin,” acknowledges the contributions of South Asian students to the UT community and encourages a respectful campus environment.
“Student Government condemns recent media statements as intentionally divisive, racist, provocative, and xenophobic,” the resolution states. “Student Government encourages members of the University community to seek opportunities for dialogue and collaboration across differences in race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, religion, political perspective, and other backgrounds.”
French, a former Tarrant County Republican chair running for statewide office in November, generated local and national attention for posts on X criticizing the number of South Asian students celebrating UT’s win against Ohio State’s football team.
Kevin Eltife, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, wrote he was “proud to celebrate all our Longhorn students” while on the sidelines in an X post, which UT President Jim Davis reposted with a comment. Davis and the University did not release other statements about French’s comments.
Resolution co-author Adit Raha, College of Liberal Arts representative, said the statement from Davis was weak. Raha, a Plan II and urban studies junior, also leads the University Democrats, which publicly supports French’s opponent.
“It’s incumbent on us as the student body to speak for the students who were attacked and harassed online the day after the Ohio State game and stand up for them,” Raha said.
Resolution co-author Dean Young, a COLA representative and sociology junior, said they received a call from a constituent asking if SG would release a statement condemning French’s comments, which prompted them to write the resolution that same night.
“The UT I know and love treats everyone equally,” Young said in a Sept. 22 meeting. “Hate, racism and xenophobia (have) no place at UT, and I’m not going to sit back while no one speaks out.”
Young said they hope the resolution makes South Asian students feel safe at the University and encourages the University to put out a more in-depth official statement.
“I would love for President Jim Davis to speak out,” Young said. “I think that it’s super important that he stands up and fights for all students at his university.”