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On Monday evening, Texas A&M’s Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion released a 113-page report; the commission was formed in response to summer protests and counterprotests over the Sul Ross statue. Thread incoming:
The Texas A&M System’s board of regents approved commission recommendations to invest $24.75 million in scholarships and other efforts designed to increase the number of Black and other POC students, staff and faculty.
Former A&M President Young formed the commission in July & charged the members with addressing racial intolerance and historical representations such as statues and practices — most notably the future of the Lawrence Sullivan Ross statue.
Ross was a Confederate general who later served as governor of Texas before becoming A&M’s president, where he served from 1891 - 1898. ‘Sully’ is credited with saving the struggling university in its early years; the statue was dedicated in 1918.
The statue’s defenders and those wanting it moved from its prominent spot on campus, today’s report notes, fall largely (not completely) along racial and generational lines.
The report, released today, makes no formal recommendation on the statue;it examines 15 universities’ responses to similar situations. It says polling on A&M’s admittance of Black students during the 1960s “would likely look” like current-era survey results regarding the statue.
“When Texas A&M rejected segregation and allowed Black and/or African American men and then women to enroll, each decision was controversial and divisive. ...
...Any poll of current and former students at those times would likely look much like the current surveys that have been conducted over the statue. The decisions made by our leaders in those times reflected that the institution was moving and growing in a new direction.”
“Leaders of our institution must decide how we want to be perceived, both now and in the future,” the report’s “symbols” section concludes. “Messaging on this issue speaks loudly to students, faculty, and staff from marginalized communities.”
The report found that A&M “significantly lags behind” peer institutions like Florida, Michigan and Texas in its six-year graduation rate for Black undergrad students.
“A recent cohort study of Texas A&M had a 61% graduation rate for its Black and African American population, whereas the peer institutions had graduation rates ranging from 74% to 81%."
“Despite Texas A&M’s efforts to improve, a perception commonly expressed to the commission is that leadership has not taken any significant actions or made any meaningful changes to support diversity, equity and inclusion. …
"When individuals were asked what they wanted to see from Texas A&M right now, there was an overwhelming response for more swift, frequent and effective communication and action about diversity, equity and inclusion.”
From the report: “There is a strong desire for Texas A&M leaders to actively and authentically acknowledge issues around racism and talk directly about broader diversity, equity and inclusion issues. As one student noted, ‘I’m so sick of bland statements!’”
From the report: “Texas A&M is not immune from the racism, sexism, ableism, religious intolerance and homophobia that exists in our country and state.” The report also mentions social media hashtags like #hateisahiddencorevalue and #racismatTAMUfeelslike .
The commission held five listening sessions that included over 350 individuals and over 100 one-on-one interviews were conducted by the members of a subcommittee. The most frequently mentioned theme was a desire for action to improve diversity and inclusion at A&M.
From community listening sessions: “The second-most mentioned theme was the desire to move the Ross
statue. These stakeholders generally believed that this statue now was a physical symbol of disrespect.”
statue. These stakeholders generally believed that this statue now was a physical symbol of disrespect.”
#3 was an expressed need for training to support managing diverse groups; #4 was a described lack of respect on campus, a sentiment primarily expressed by current students. #5 was a need to clarify what the Core Values mean.
The sixth-most discussed theme was the desire to maintain the Ross statue as is. “The reasons cited behind such statements were to prevent erasing history, to honor tradition and to commemorate Ross.”
Of those interviewed or who participated in listening sessions, 75% of those involved want the statue moved or removed, and 25% want it to stay as is, the report states.
Report: “There appear to be generational gaps in opinions related to the statue as well, with older participants expressing a desire to leave the statue alone while younger generations advocate for relocation/ removal.”
Actions listed in the report include increasing the number of scholarship recipients and fellowship participants for certain programs, recognizing more “outstanding Aggies leading by example" ...
Actions, continued: "Establishing a task force to tell the story of A&M’s history through displays and iconography, and documenting and communicating success stories of former students of color."
There is also $1.5 million set aside to expand the student pipeline in fall 2021 and fall 2022, in part by “significantly” increasing the number of students from underrepresented groups by 2026.
My colleague @MeganLRodriguez is leading our coverage of this developing story. Here’s an early link: https://theeagle.com/news/texas-a-m-commission-on-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-issues-report/article_141e95cc-5f6f-11eb-a2c8-4b02e051d725.html
The Board of Regents released a statement this evening that doesn’t directly mention the Sully statue. “As we have in the past, Texas A&M will be among the forward-looking institutions firmly
engaged in and committed to advancing opportunities for all Texans.”
engaged in and committed to advancing opportunities for all Texans.”
Board of Regents statement link: https://www.tamus.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/01-25-2021_BOR_Statement_on_Diversity.pdf
To view the entire report from the Texas A&M Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, click here: http://www.tamus.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CDEI_Final_Report_2021.pdf
My colleague @Travis_L_Brown notes that donation-related groups, including 12th Man Foundation, don't believe DEI efforts (including issues related to Sul Ross statue) will have long-term effects on giving. Here's his tweet: https://twitter.com/Travis_L_Brown/status/1353853812822388736
Interim A&M President John Junkins told regents there is room for improvement, especially in terms of increasing the % of Black students and faculty.
Junkins: “I decided early on that I couldn't do everything that — all the issues that were raised in this report; I look for the tall poles and the tent, the things that required investment & things that would make the most difference that we could get started on this spring.”
The @TexasTribune reported a story earlier today that found many students of color at universities in Texas are frustrated by "lengthy bureaucratic processes" in response to specific calls to action & change regarding Confederate statues & racism. Link: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/25/confederate-texas-universities/
My colleague @MeganLRodriguez has updated her story on Texas A&M's diversity, equity and inclusion report: https://theeagle.com/news/a_m/texas-a-m-system-approves-initiatives-to-address-diversity/article_9de36c32-5f75-11eb-9dcb-4fcd8d12c007.html#tracking-source=home-just-in
