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... Addendae

Texas A&M Celebrated a New Journalism Director. Then Came the Complaints

Kathleen McElroy was appointed head of a journalism program at the university. But then her work in D.E.I. seemed to come into question

The controversy is an example of how politics has increasingly influenced university decisions about faculty hiring, once the exclusive purview of academics.

In Dr. McElroy’s case, the exact source of the pressure was unclear, & Dr. Bermúdez declined to be interviewed.

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Victoria Stuart 🇨🇦 🏳️‍⚧️ 2y ago

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But at least one conservative Texas A&M alumni group - the Rudder Association - said it had filed a complaint about Dr. McElroy’s appointment.

Matthew Poling, the president of the group, said that members did not approve of Dr. McElroy’s work promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Her advocacy was the focus of an article in a conservative publication, Texas Scorecard, shortly after her appointment.

https://texasscorecard.com/state/aggies-hire-ny-times-diversity-advocate-to-head-journalism-program

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Victoria Stuart 🇨🇦 🏳️‍⚧️ 2y ago

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At about the time of Dr. McElroy’s hiring, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed a law banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices at the state’s public universities.

Texas A&M President Resigns Amid Fallout Over Journalism Program

The university said M. Katherine Banks would retire “immediately” after political pushback over the appointment of Kathleen McElroy to lead its journalism program

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/us/texas-a-m-president-resigns.html

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/11/texas-a-m-kathleen-mcelroy-journalism

Victoria Stuart 🇨🇦 🏳️‍⚧️ 2y ago

... Addendae, cont'd

Texas A&M president 'retires immediately' after fallout from hiring Black journalist

https://www.npr.org/2023/07/21/1189283946/texas-am-president-retires-fallout-black-journalist-hiring

"The recent challenges regarding Dr. McElroy have made it clear to me that I must retire immediately," Banks said in her announcement.

The university announced last month it hired McElroy, a Texas A&M graduate, to lead its journalism program.

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Victoria Stuart 🇨🇦 🏳️‍⚧️ 2y ago

... cont'd

The hire drew backlash f. conservatives across Texas who criticized statements McElroy made about diversity, equity & inclusion, per The Texas Tribune who first reported the story

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/11/texas-a-m-kathleen-mcelroy-journalism/

Diversity, equity, and inclusion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity,_equity,_and_inclusion

McElroy's offer quickly fell apart: the position was originally tenure-eligible, but changed to a 12-year professor of practice.

McElroy ultimately turned down the offer for a one-year contract, the Tribune reported.