Texas A&M, a once proud Conservative institution, prides itself on tradition. For the last 100 years, traditionally, Texas A&M has been a Conservative school. There is an old saying in Aggieland, "from the outside looking in, you can't understand it. From the inside looking out, you can't explain it." But in recent years people, both inside and out, have been unable to explain or understand why the school has shifted to following the Progressive Liberal agenda.

Following a DEI-related scandal in 2022 and 2023, which ended with a $1 million payoff to a DEI professor and then-President Katherine Banks resigning, new President Mark Welsh has taken the progressive torch. Holding a history of supporting DEI initiatives, Welsh is finding another way to skirt state DEI bans. The school is reportedly sponsoring travel for students to a DEI conference in Chicago, which explicitly bans white and Asian students. That is according to a report by journalist Chris Rufo.

Governor Greg Abbott responded, saying on X that it is "against the law...it will be fixed immediately, or the president will soon be gone." The Governor is now threatening to fire the Texas A&M president. It is just the latest of many DEI controversies for the school that has bought into the liberal madness.

Christian Collins of Texas Youth Summit says Welsh has never been a Republican and is not what the school needs as their leader.

"This is someone who was working in the Obama Administration, he is someone who is a liberal at heart," he says.

To keep track, while Dean of the Bush School in 2016, Welsh told students that diversity should play a decisive role in hiring decisions. There is a law specifically against that kind of hiring discrimination. That is what you call a regression to segregation, the opposite of progress. But logic does not sit well with Democrats.

That is just his record at Texas A&M. He served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Obama, where he pushed for similar things. He is now president at a school, which was once led by Robert Gates, who worked under both Bush Administrations.

It does not make sense for him to be in that position historically, but it is also a slap in the face to parents who work to send their kids there.

"He does not represent the values of the vast majority of families and students going there," says Collins. "Parents who work hard to send their kid to college...they are not doing it with the intent they be taught that because you are white, you are inherently racist."

Much of the issue though falls right back in Austin. The Texas A&M System is overseen by the Board of Regents, who are appointed by the Governor, and confirmed by the Senate. So, weeding these DEI thumpers out is a bit of a challenge. But turning Texas A&M back Red falls on how they continue forward.

"The Senate needs to be careful who they confirm, Governor Abbott needs to be careful who he appoints...and the Board of Regents needs to be careful who they hire," he says.

That is easier said than done. This is the same process that ended up making Welsh president of the school.

President Welsh has addressed the story, saying in a statement:

"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. The intent of SB-17 is very clear in that regard. We will continue to honor both the letter and the intent of the law.”

Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp has announced he will leave the position by June 30th of this year. That will be the first real chance Abbott, and the Senate, get to start turning Texas A&M back to its traditional roots.

UPDATE: As a result of the controversy, A&M has decided not to participate in the conference.

GardenLine