Mastodawn

Jay Rosen Jul 21, 2023

Amazing story. Have you followed it?

Texas A&M announces a new journalism dean. She's black and she's qualified— and an alum of the school! Ex-New York Times too.

They announce her appointment in a splashy event.

Dark forces of reaction mobilize.

The offer is watered down to one year, with no tenure. She says no way, and withdraws. National news is made. It's negative. And today, the president of A&M resigns!

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/21/tamu-president-resign-journalism/

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/11/texas-a-m-kathleen-mcelroy-journalism/

#journalism #uspol #science

Texas A&M President Katherine Banks resigns amid fallout from failed hiring of journalism professor

“The recent challenges regarding Dr. McElroy have made it clear to me that I must retire immediately,” Banks wrote in her resignation letter. “The negative press is a distraction from the wonderful work being done here.”

The Texas Tribune

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laurent oget Jul 21, 2023

@jayrosen_nyu the damage this is causing to the state of Texas is considerable. Abbott at work.

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Adam (He/Him/Ally)Jul 22, 2023

@laurentoget @jayrosen_nyu sorry, I feel that's overstatement and possible misattribution to Abbott. TAMU had a reputation for these wrong-headed ideas over a century earlier, hence Aggie jokes as a popular genre. Abbott hasn't earned the right to be an enduring symbol for Tejas, not like Anne Richards. My favorite quote from a #GOTV call is "I'd rather vote for a jar of mayonnaise than Greg Abbott." That's #TX.

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laurent oget Jul 22, 2023

@slouchking @jayrosen_nyu

my impression is that this dumpster fire is the board of regents, all abbott creatures, going over the head of the president and making it impossible for her to keep doing her job, and throwing TAMU into chaos. This is going beyond aggies being a bit backward.

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Adam (He/Him/Ally)Jul 22, 2023

@laurentoget @jayrosen_nyu yes and no. The Board of Regents, Chancellor and President are a mixed bag in the political spectrum. Chancellor Sharp worked with Ann Richards. According to the Battalion, you might to look more closely at the Rudder Association and Dan Patrick who promoted 4 regents to the board based on their anti-CRT views, among other things. The Rudder Assoc stated purpose is to "put the #Aggie back in Aggieland." https://www.thebatt.com/news/the-rudder-association-a-deep-dive-into-the-conservative-former-student-group-with-plans-to/article_ee9f31ec-9dae-11ec-a4cc-efe4856b436c.html

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laurent oget Jul 22, 2023

@slouchking @jayrosen_nyu

i admit i do not differentiate much between the abbot branch and the patrick branch of TX republicans - so you are probably right and i was using Abbott as a label for all texan culture warriors

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Adam (He/Him/Ally)

@laurentoget @jayrosen_nyu #TX is a more complicated place than national news frames it. Either way, it's fascinating to unfold this particular controversy. News that the Dept Chairs signature was forged on the downgraded offer letter makes me think more heads will roll. The Rudder Association needs to be investigated for the threat it represents for open learning.