"Two black draft horses pulled a hearse across the Texas Tech University campus Thursday, driven by a solemn-faced coachman dressed in black. The hearse carried no coffin or body, just books. Titles included The Farewell Symphony by Edmund White, Reports From the Holocaust: The Making of an AIDS Activist by Larry Kramer and The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies by Vito Russo-books that are now banned, censored or threatened at Texas Tech after the system chancellor handed down sweeping policies that restrict content related to gender and sexuality."
"In the center of the hearse sat a scarlet urn, which "represented the spirit of Texas Tech," said Sumya Paruchuri, development director at Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, a statewide student-run organization that aims to get students involved in education policymaking. "We had faculty, students, alumni and community members bring books that were meaningful to them, that they taught, that they were taught with, and they placed them in the carriage as a statement," said Paruchuri."
"Funeral services began at 8 a.m. Thursday outside the system Board of Regents meeting. One student, Aaron Texidor, was approved by the board chair to speak during the public comment portion. "I've learned from the greatest professors here, who know me by name. When you get that connection with someone, you start to hear their story. Yet, the story that I've been hearing-specifically in the psychology and education departments-has been a story of fear," Texidor said before the board."
""We cannot with one hand say we support education and with the other cover the mouths of our professors." Board chair Cody Campbell thanked Texidor for his comments but did not otherwise respond to what he said. Texas Tech spokespeople did not respond to Inside Higher Ed 's request for com"
Two black draft horses pulled a hearse across the Texas Tech University campus with a coachman dressed in black. The hearse carried no coffin or body, only books that are banned, censored, or threatened under new system policies restricting content related to gender and sexuality. Titles included works by Edmund White, Larry Kramer, and Vito Russo. Students held a mock funeral for academic freedom outside the system Board of Regents meeting. A scarlet urn in the center represented the spirit of Texas Tech. Students and community members placed meaningful books into the carriage. During public comment, Aaron Texidor described fear in psychology and education departments and said Texas Tech cannot support education while covering professors’ mouths.
#academic-freedom #censorship-and-banned-books #gender-and-sexuality-policy #student-activism #texas-tech-university
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