This week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to remove Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh III over the institution’s participation in an upcoming conference hosted by The PhD Project, which Abbott alleged violates the state’s ban on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives.
The controversy began when conservative activist Christopher Rufo shared a university email inviting faculty and PhD students to a conference restricted to Black, Hispanic, or Native American participants. On social media, Abbott responded decisively to a question about the incident, writing, “Hell, no. It’s against Texas law and violates the U.S. Constitution. It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone.”
Senate Bill 17, enacted last year, prohibits public universities in Texas from maintaining DEI offices, mandating DEI statements, or giving preferential treatment based on race, sex, or ethnicity. However, the Texas A&M email, sent by Mays Business School’s Associate Dean Michael C. Withers, cited the university’s legal counsel, asserting that the conference adhered to the law’s exemptions for recruitment efforts.
Rufo, a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute, has gained prominence for his critiques of DEI policies. His post spotlighted the email and its connection to The PhD Project, an organization promoting diversity in academia and corporate leadership. The conference, scheduled for March in Chicago, has been attended by Texas A&M representatives in the past.
In response to the backlash, Welsh stated on Tuesday that the university complies with the law. “Texas A&M does not support any organization, conference, process or activity that excludes people based on race, creed, gender, age or any other discriminating factor,” he said.
Meanwhile, other Texas public universities, including the University of Texas (UT) and Texas Tech, have reportedly withdrawn from the conference, following recommendations from the state university system. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over DEI policies in higher education under Texas’ restrictive legislation.
