Texas A&M University Revises Course Content on Gender and Race
Texas A&M University is currently overhauling its course offerings, specifically targeting materials related to gender and race. They’ve reportedly instructed professors that the core curriculum should exclude major narratives that feature gay or transgender characters, causing uproar among some faculty members who advocate for this content.
Reports indicate that at least 200 courses within the College of Arts and Sciences have been flagged or removed as part of a broader review of the curriculum. This assessment includes a directive for educators to submit their core curriculum syllabi for evaluation.
This decision follows a recent ruling by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, which specified that any course promoting “racial or gender ideology, sexual orientation, or gender identity” will now need to be approved by the university president.
One professor was instructed to eliminate feminist and queer film topics from a “film history” course. When he resisted, officials redirected the syllabus to a different class and stripped it from the core requirements for graduation. The term “core curriculum” refers to essential courses that every student must take, regardless of their major.
In another instance, a professor expressed frustration after receiving an email from the dean of Texas A&M, requesting the removal of a “module on race and gender ideology” or face reassignment to a different philosophy course. Professor Martin Peterson, who teaches “Modern Moral Issues,” was particularly upset about the directive to exclude a reading of Plato that could potentially relate to these themes.
Peterson wrote in an email, “Your decision to prohibit philosophy professors from teaching Plato is unprecedented.” He referred to sections of Plato’s Socratic Dialogues, highlighting a passage by Aristophanes that mentions the nature of humanity and the existence of different kinds of beings, which could touch on themes relevant to gender identity.
While some Platonic texts flagged in this review address topics like patriarchy and masculinity, it’s unclear whether Plato is entirely barred from the core syllabus.
In the end, Peterson chose to amend the syllabus, opting to replace the gender-related material with content focused on free speech and academic freedom. He mentioned considering using this situation as a case study for discussion, perhaps including articles from journalists who reported on the issue.
Another course, titled “Introduction to Race and Ethnicity,” was ultimately canceled by university leaders, who concluded that it could not align with their newly established policies.
Still, the situation hasn’t completely silenced dissenting professors who are unhappy with the restrictions on LGBTQ topics or transgender themes in their classes. On Wednesday, Cynthia Werner, the university’s senior executive vice dean, tried to clarify the new guidelines in an email directed at English faculty. She stated that if a course has eight books, and only one includes an LGBTQ character—and it doesn’t dominate the plot—then that book can remain part of the syllabus. She also noted that chapters on transgender identity could be included in textbooks, assuming they aren’t discussed in class or included in assignments.
