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Texas A&M leadership is clearing the air: the much-disputed Lawrence Sullivan Ross statue, honoring the former university president and Confederate general, is staying put.
Interim President John Junkins stressed the school’s intentions to The Texas Tribune on Wednesday, just two days after the university put out a report that characterized the question of the statue’s future as unresolved. Students who have been pushing the university on diversity issues also said they were never told that the issue had been decided.
Junkins said the statue will remain where it is at the center of campus, known as Academic Plaza.
University officials said Wednesday that the decision to keep the Ross statue in place is not a new one, and that the diversity committee that has been studying the issue for the past three months was never considering removing the statue.
, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
A diversity committee at Texas A&M University said school officials must resolve the decadeslong debate over moving or removing the statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross, a former Texas governor and Confederate general, or else the university risks long-term damage to its reputation.
A report released Monday evening found that 75% of the 450 students, faculty and alumni who provided feedback to the committee want the statue moved or removed. But the committee, which was formed as a response to summer protests calling for racial justice and demands by students, did not make its own recommendation, insisting its role was for fact finding.
Texas A&M again delays decision on moving Sul Ross statue, as committee warns inaction will damage university
Texas A&M Official
Posted at 7:39 PM, Jan 26, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-26 20:39:29-05
COLLEGE STATION, TX â A diversity committee at Texas A&M University said school officials must resolve the decadeslong debate over moving or removing the statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross, a former Texas governor and Confederate general, or else the university risks long-term damage to its reputation.
A report released Monday evening found that 75% of the 450 students, faculty and alumni who provided feedback to the committee want the statue moved or removed. But the committee, which was formed as a response to summer protests calling for racial justice and demands by students, did not make its own recommendation, insisting its role was for fact finding.
The Texas A&M Board of Regents met on Jan. 15 to discuss the University Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusionâs report on campus climate.
The commissionâs presentation of the report, originally planned for October of last year, consisted of a number of statistics and information gathered from the 45 members of the commission including students, faculty and staff. The diversity report, titled âStronger Together,â was presented by co-chairs of the commission John Hurtado and Jimmy Williams.
âThe data and discussions of the commission show that Texas A&M has reached an inflection point, and it is time for Aggies to do what Aggies do best: lead and serve,â the commissionâs executive summary reads. âOur work as a commission revealed that there remains within the Aggie community a strong desire to show bold leadership in support of diversity, equity and inclusion; to commit to improving our campus climate; to trust one another; to have diff