Perspective: Why Conversation Fails to Understand Student Unrest on College Campuses
In the past, several high-profile figures in the Republican Party shared a common educational background with President George W. Bush, but few other leaders in the party have shown the same level of appreciation for university life as he did in 2001. Many Republican leaders, on the other hand, have spent the last two decades disrespecting the very institutions that contributed to their professional advancement. They have criticized the expertise that universities provided on topics like climate change, the diversity and inclusion ethos, and even the duty of teaching a comprehensive account of our nation's history.
This ongoing Republican battle against universities is what sparked the current chaos on campuses. The student demonstrations and police interventions are a direct result of this long-standing assault on colleges and universities. These attacks have, over time, eroded the authority of university administrators and angered students, staff, and faculty. The heightened police presence seen on college campuses across the nation last week is a telling sign of the escalating tension.
The University of Texas at Austin serves as a prime example of this crisis. In 2008, Gov. Rick Perry, who succeeded George W. Bush, introduced "Seven Breakthrough Solutions" for the higher education system in the state. These initiatives undermined the research and autonomous inquiry missions of colleges and universities. When the university's president, William Powers, voiced his opposition to these changes, Perry set out to oust Powers' academic critics.
Powers, with the help and support of donors and other friends in the state, managed to maintain his position and protect the autonomy of the university. However, this came at a significant financial and political cost for the institution. The relationship between the university and elected Republicans deteriorated significantly, particularly as far-right Republicans gained more influence in the state legislature. Conversely, many faculty, staff, and students reciprocated that distrust and hostility toward the officials who seemed unaware of the realities of campus life.
Greg Abbott, the University of Texas graduate who succeeded Perry as governor in 2015, offered hope for better relations. However, in an attempt to boost his anti-establishment credentials, Abbott soon became a critic of universities. He joined the chorus of conservatives who accused the University of Texas of silencing and disparaging conservative viewpoints.
To support ideological diversity, conservative donors and the Texas legislature pushed for the creation of more spaces on campus promoting conservative causes, such as free markets, traditional constitutional principles, and strong national security policies. The university's leadership embraced this idea, helping to establish some of the most well-funded and dynamic research centers in the nation.
These centers, which continue to be active to this day, include the Clements Center for National Security, the Salem Center for Policy, the Civitas Institute, and most recently, the School of Civic Leadership. As a professor at the University of Texas, I can testify to their significance in enriching my research and my students' education, regardless of their political leanings.
Simultaneously, the Texas legislature banned any training or recruitment for racial, gender, and ethnic diversity. With the passage of Senate Bill 17 in 2023, universities in Texas were forbidden from "engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion activities."
On my campus, this resulted in the sudden closure of offices dedicated to helping minority students, faculty, and staff acclimate to college life. Although military veterans and first-generation students can still receive targeted support, students from underrepresented communities, like minority students from Houston, Latinx students from the Rio Grande Valley, or transgender students from Dallas, can no longer expect any assistance. Over 40 staff members who specialized in diversity were let go in early April.
As the conservative centers flourished on campus, however, the Texas legislature reduced their diversity-focused counterparts. These centers provide valuable resources and safe spaces for their students. This dynamic has created a more white institution, as evidenced by the difficulties in recruiting and retaining faculty and students of color.
The recent protests on my campus, along with similar incidents at other institutions, can be traced to this context. Many students, faculty, and staff, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, feel that they have been hit with one setback after another due to hostile politicians and seemingly submissive administrators. They believe they have less say in the direction of their universities than they have had in the past, and they are not wrong.
Both public and private university leaders have become more distant from their own campuses as they focus on fundraising and testifying before hostile federal and state legislatures. They are increasingly cautious about taking any action that might upset a powerful politician or donor.
The demonstrations in support of Palestinians have roots in broader concerns about university management. It's important to note that most people don't believe universities can end the ongoing war in this way.
While there may be valid reasons for university leaders not to give in to protesters on this and other issues, attacking them (i.e., trying to "cancel" them) only makes the situation worse. The protesters already feel targeted by right-wing politicians and university administrators; police intervention exacerbates this feeling and provokes further resentment and protest. This is also true for measures like House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's hint at reducing or eliminating federal funding for college campuses in response to ongoing demonstrations. https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/26/texas-universities-diversity-dept-shut-down-2023/
We faced a similar dilemma during the late '60s and early '70s, when individuals at American educational institutions felt marginalized and under assault from politicians who championed the Vietnam War, along with university heads who conceded to their demands. The National Guard's brutal crackdown - notably at Kent State and Jackson State Universities in May 1970 - drove the conflict into the forefront, resulting in student fatalities, injuries, and extensive property damage. We must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
The present default campaign waged by certain politicians could potentially lead down the same path.
Rather than hostile behavior, we need politicians who, despite their disagreements with professors advocating for progressive ideologies, will safeguard the worthiness derived from their own university upbringing. Authorities in states like Texas ought to emulate President Bush's appreciation for the "devoted commitment to learning" nurtured within academic institutions and devise strategies to upkeep these principles. Political leaders should inspire university administrators to forge bonds with those who teach, research, and learn on a daily basis.
It's unlikely that every protester will respond enthusiastically to an open conversation, but a fair number will. I have witnessed this firsthand. It's now time to put an end to the decades-long hostility towards universities. This tactic only profits those whose ultimate goal is to undermine higher education and exploit the suppression of youthful, imaginative voices for their political gain.
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Source: edition.cnn.com
