Texas Law student Anthony Collier – joined by (l-r) UT student Zion James, UT professor Alberto Martínez, Texas NAACP President Gary Bledsoe, Rep. Ron Reynolds, and Dallas minister Lamont Ross – addressed reporters at a press conference denouncing The Eyes of Texas. (photo by Beth Sullivan)
Texas Black lawmakers, civil rights leaders, and students from the
University of Texas of Austin are calling on UT-Austin leadership to finally abandon the school s spirit song,
The Eyes of Texas.
On Monday, state Rep.
Texas NAACP President
Gary Bledsoe, Austin NAACP President
Nelson Linder, and members of the campus community to denounce UT s decision to keep the tune as its alma mater after last month s
My reaction to TEOT History Committee Report By UTgrad 08 on Mar 16, 2021, 10:00pm CDT 29
Well, I felt the need to provide my analysis on The Eyes of Texas History Committee s report, since I ve done a great deal of research on this topic myself since June (as many of you know). If you are tired of this topic, or feel like it s a horse that s simply beaten to death by now, I understand. Stop reading now, because this is a very long post. But if you are interested in my take, read on. However, this will most likely be my last long post on this issue, as the Committee s report has pretty much fully exposed the clear history of the TEOT for all to see, and it s unnecessary to keep promoting my research. Here we go:
A University of Texas report confirms its alma mater s complicated history but finds no racist intent
Updated 8:15 PM ET, Wed March 10, 2021 (CNN)The University of Texas has long faced allegations that its famous alma mater, The Eyes of Texas, had a racist past, but a committee tasked with researching the tune s history and intent found it s not as clear as it seems.
UT President Jay Hartzell established The Eyes of Texas History Committee in October, saying it would research, analyze and collect data to suggest ways for the university to move forward with greater inclusion and equity. The committee was composed of 25 former students, current students, administrators, faculty members, student athletes, retired administrators, spirit squad members and communication specialists.
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Source: Cheryl Gerber/AP Images for Allstate
“The Eyes of Texas,” the University of Texas’ (UT) beloved alma matter, has been deemed free from “nostalgia for slavery” and “racist intent,” so says an internal committee instituted by the school.
The committee was created in October of 2020 after multiple student-athletes sent a letter to the university asking for a new fight song “without racist undertones.”
In response, and in a rare example of modern institutional backbone, UT decided the century-old song would remain in place and instituted a committee composed “of former students, current students, administrators, faculty members, student athletes, retired administrators, spirit squad members, and communication specialists” to thoroughly analyze the song’s origins and institutional impact at the university.
A University of Texas report confirms its alma mater’s complicated history but finds ‘no racist intent’
The University of Texas has long faced allegations that its famous alma mater, “The Eyes of Texas,” had a racist past, but a committee tasked with researching the tune’s history and intent found it’s not as clear as it seems.
UT President Jay Hartzell established The Eyes of Texas History Committee in October, saying it would research, analyze and collect data to suggest “ways for the university to move forward with greater inclusion and equity.” The committee was composed of 25 former students, current students, administrators, faculty members, student athletes, retired administrators, spirit squad members and communication specialists.