Texas A&M University’s President Mark A. Welsh will resign on Friday following a viral video of a student accusing a professor of unlawfully teaching “gender ideology.” The incident led to the firing of the instructor, a dean and a department head.
There were also demands for an investigation by the Trump administration.
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“Mark Welsh will step down from his role as President of Texas A&M University, effective Sept. 19 at 5 p.m.,” the Thursday press release read.
‘The right moment’
“We are grateful for his service contributions,” Chancellor Glenn Hegar said in a statement. “At the same time, we agree that now is the right moment to make a change and to position Texas A&M for continued excellence in the years ahead.”
Hegar added, “In the coming days, the Board of Regents will initiate a national search for a permanent president and appoint an interim president to ensure a seamless transition.”
Welsh reportedly said he would release a statement on Friday.
Republicans react to announcement
Republican state Rep. Brian Harrison celebrated the announcement. It comes after he previously posted a video interaction between the instructor and student in a children’s literature course. In the post, he called for Welsh to be fired.
“As the first elected official to call for him to be fired, this news is welcome, although overdue,” Harrison wrote on X. “Now… END ALL DEI AND LGBTQ INDOCTRINATION IN TEXAS.”
Welsh faced scrutiny from Texas Republicans
Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick accused Welsh of initially taking the professor’s side and “dismissing the student’s concerns” in a social media post.
Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, threatened to fire Welsh earlier this year after he discovered the university’s school of business had invited students and staff to an event promoting diversity in the classroom. Welsh reacted by withdrawing the university from the conference.
The confrontation
In an excerpt of the video, neither the instructor nor the student can be seen. In the footage, the voice of the student can reportedly be heard, as well as the professor, identified as Melissa McCoul.
The student, who requested not to be identified, questions whether McCoul’s teachings on gender identity are legal, citing President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
“I’m not sure this is legal to be teaching because according to our president, there’s only two genders and he said he would be freezing agencies’ funding programs that promote gender ideology,” the student can be overheard saying. “And this also very much goes against, not only myself but a lot of people’s religious beliefs.”
McCoul can be heard replying, “If you are uncomfortable in this class you do have the right to leave. What we are doing is not illegal.”
The following day, she was fired. Her lawyer told The Washington Post that she’s appealing her termination.
Education advocacy group defends professor
Her firing sparked criticism from some education advocates.
“We’re witnessing the death of academic freedom in Texas,” Jonathan Friedman of literacy advocate group PEN America said in a statement obtained by CBS. “Firing academic leaders to appease politicians is excessive and open inquiry on campus.”
Welsh defended McCoul and her fellow academics’ ousting, saying it’s not “about academic freedom,” but rather “academic responsibility.”
