Texas A & M has identified their top three candidates: Cynthia Carnes from Ohio State, Arizona State’s Lara Ferry, and Michigan University’s Angela Wilson- all have a history of supporting diversion, equity and inclusion policies through publications, keynote speaker appearances, or by supporting funding for grants supporting DEI research.
“DEI is being repackaged, regardless of what you call it, they ‘re not following the spirt of the law, SB-17 (Senate Bill 17), they’re disobeying the law, and they are doing everything they can to find wiggle room to get around it. None of these candidates are people that our taxpayer dollars should be going to.” Youth Summit President, Christian Collins said.
In 2023, Texas Governor Abbot signed Senate Bill 17 into law banning DEI policies that say they stand for diversion, equity, and inclusion.
“DEI agendas divide us rather than unite us and have no place in the state of Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “These radical policies deviate from constitutional principles and deny diverse thought. Every Texan is equal under the law, including the state and federal Constitutions, both of which prohibit government discrimination based on race. That is why I directed all state agencies to eliminate any form of DEI attempting to divide Texans. We must always reject race-based favoritism or discrimination and allow people to advance based on talent and merit.” Abbot announced in 2023.
Collins says there should be accountability for those who break the law and mechanisms in place to change this.
The hiring committee he says does not want to hire anyone with conservative views or anyone that believes or teaches Christianity. “You might get a conservative chancellor, you might get a conservative president, but all the positions beneath them are still a bunch of woke people.” Collins said.
He says the professors who support the DEI agendas are pushing woke indoctrination on America’s young people. Collins recommends a balance in leadership from the top down. A balance in views- both Republican and Democrat; besides, that’s diversity, equity, and inclusion, right?
“It's kind of like the federal government, you can put President Trump, in that position and you can have him appoint all the secretaries, but unless they drain the swamp then nothing is going to change. That is also true of our universities.” He said.
The university currently has Interim President, Tommy Wiliams, in office. He took over following the controversial resignation of Mark Welsh III, after a week of turmoil over a viral classroom video of a student confronting a professor over gender content in a children’s literature course. Welsh fired the teacher a day later. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick publicly responded, sharing he did not feel Welsh managed the situation properly. Chancellor Glenn Hegar praised Welsh for his tenure but agreed to let him go.
After the hiring committee conducts their interviews, narrowing down their decision, the committee will begin stakeholder input then, submit for approval to the Board of Regents.