Texas A&M Fires Professor, Removes Two Administrators Following Curriculum Dispute; Calls Mount for Broader Leadership Changes

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M University recently fired a professor and removed two senior administrators amidst a viral controversy over gender identity content taught in a children's literature course. This swift action by university leadership, following intense political pressure, has ignited further debate, with some critics, including Eithan Haim MD, asserting that accountability must extend beyond individual faculty members to top university leadership. The incident underscores growing tensions surrounding academic freedom and curriculum control within Texas public universities.

The controversy erupted after a video circulated online showing a student confronting senior lecturer Melissa McCoul regarding LGBTQ-related content in her class, which the student claimed violated President Donald Trump's executive orders and religious beliefs. Initially, Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III defended the professor, but his stance shifted as Republican lawmakers, including Texas Rep. Brian Harrison, amplified the video and called for investigations. President Welsh subsequently announced McCoul's termination and the removal of College of Arts and Sciences Dean Mark Zoran and department head Emily Johansen, citing that the course material was inconsistent with its published description.

Texas A&M System Chancellor Glenn Hegar and the Board of Regents supported these actions, with Hegar stating that "insubordination and indoctrination have no place on our campus or in our classrooms." The Board also initiated an audit of all courses across the A&M System. However, the measures have not satisfied all critics. Eithan Haim MD, commenting on the situation, stated, > "This is the wrong posture. It must be more than the professor who gets fired. This type of blatant subversion requires the backing of department and university leadership." Haim added that firing only one professor "would only provide the appearance of accountability but would do nothing to extract the systematic rot within the Texas A&M system. For accountability to take place, top leadership must go."

This sentiment is echoed by some lawmakers, with Rep. Harrison calling for President Welsh's removal, arguing that the current actions are insufficient. The incident has also drawn concern from academic organizations like PEN America and the Texas chapter of the American Association of University Professors, who warn about the erosion of academic freedom in Texas. This development occurs as Texas universities navigate new legislative mandates, including a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and Senate Bill 37, which grants regents more authority over curricula.