AUSTIN, Texas — Republican lawmakers on the new Select Committee on Civil Discourse and Freedom of Speech in Higher Education credit the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk for encouraging political debate. But many felt Kirk often did so at the detriment of minority groups, resulting in divided reactions to his death.
“The fact that, that we could not agree in a society that any political assassination needs to be condemned is a point that I wish we would not have to recognize as the obvious. But we’re doing that today,” said state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston.
Republicans are concerned about violence at universities after students at Texas State University and Texas Tech University were removed from campus for mocking Kirk’s death. Large protests took place on campuses across the state last year over the conflict in Gaza, which led to a new state law limiting when and where students can protest on campus.
State Rep. Terry Wilson, R-Georgetown, one of the committee’s chairs, thinks there are more ways to reign in hate speech or actions the Legislature may deem unacceptable.
“Freedom of speech is not the freedom to threaten, harass or disrupt. Academic freedom is not the license to defy public accountability,” said Wilson.
In September, Texas State fired professor Thomas Alter after he made negative comments about the U.S. government at a socialism conference.
And Texas A&M fired an English professor for discussing her gender identity lesson plan in class.
“We have students who set up the professor to make a comment on some, maybe not the direct related subject matter of the course being taught. And it gets out there in the political world, and how does the university at least protect itself from the political pressure?” said state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen.
Democrats alluded to the need for better faculty protections but worry too much oversight could silence professors or minority voices.
The president of the University of Texas at Austin, Jim Davis, told lawmakers he believes in the school’s due process steps and encourages faculty to practice healthy discourse for students to model.
“Our commitment to ourselves of our principles help close that gap of that difference of opinion of someone feeling like I have been offended, therefore, you are wrong in thinking. How can we be that to be more understanding and make sure as keep focus on the actual topic of the class,” said Davis.
But when asked, Davis agreed with the feelings of state Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, that conservative students are ostracized more on campuses than liberal students.
“It’s never been a more important time for the adults in the room to create an environment where all voices can be heard,” said Buckley.
Rickey Adam, a Texas Turning Point USA manager, told lawmakers their group is motivated to bring conservatism to the forefront for more young students.
“We will put a Turning Point USA or Club America in every single high school in the state,” said Adam. “You have my word.”
Republicans on the committee committed to helping Turning Point USA grow in Texas, while also expecting similar groups with different views to do the same.