Texas University president steps down following outrage over viral gender video

Posted on by Samantha

The president of Texas A&M University has said he will step down following a row about an inclusive class at the institution.

Mark A Welsh III will leave his role on Friday (19 September) after dealing with backlash over a professor, Melissa McCoul who was fired after a viral video showed a student confronting her over her use of LGBTQ+ themes in analysing children’s books.

Mark A Welsh III was subsequently accused of “trans indoctrination” by multiple right-wing figures, including MAGA Republican State Rep. Brian Harrison, for allowing that class, and others, to be taught at all.

Chancellor Glenn Hegar, who acknowledged Welsh’s “tireless” work to “strengthen the university’s national reputation”,  praised Welsh’s decision to step down, adding that he believes it’s “the right moment for change”.

“Together, we believe this transition is necessary to ensure Texas A&M is well positioned for the future, a future that demands bold leadership, continued innovation, and an unwavering commitment to the core values of this university to meet the challenges we face,” Hegar’s statement, which didn’t mention the video, added.

Melissa McCoul was also fired due to pressure from Republican lawmakers, including governor Greg Abbott, who had called for her termination after learning that she had continued to teach a children’s literature course that Welsh stated “contained content that did not align with any reasonable expectation of standard curriculum for the course”. 

Texas State representative Brian Harrison posted a clip of the class with the caption: “CAUGHT ON TAPE:  TEXAS A&M STUDENT KICKED OUT OF CLASS AFTER OBJECTING TO TRANSGENDER INDOCTRINATION… and A&M President defends “LGBTQ Studies.”

As reported by The Independent, McCoul’s attorney, Amanda Reichek, said McCoul’s “course content was entirely consistent with the catalog and course description, and she was never instructed to change her course content in any way, shape, or form.”

The Daily Mail reported that McCoul has stated through her lawyer that her termination as a violation of constitutional rights. Due to this she has vowed to appeal the decision.  

Prior to stepping down, Welsh had also ordered the removal of the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the head of the English Department, while Hegar ordered an audit of courses at all 12 schools in the system.

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