After widespread discussion with students, alumni, and community members, the University of Texas has settled on a series of actions it says will promote diversity, inclusion, and equity for African-American students on campus.
These actions will focus on two broad areas, the university says: doing more to recruit, attract, retain and support a diverse group of students, staff and faculty; and, reconsidering how to best reflect the university’s values, both in the symbols and names on campus.
UT will rename the Robert L. Moore Building; add plaques and educational information about the names of various buildings and locations on campus; and teach about the origins of “The Eyes of Texas,” which has remained the school’s official fight song for generations. Recently, a groundswell of opposition to the school song began to grow, but it was met with widespread backlash from supporters of the song, both locally and nationally.
“During the past month, I have listened to scores of students. I went into these conversations understanding that UT has worked hard to become a more diverse and welcoming place. I came out of them realizing there is still more work to do — and this starts and ends by creating an environment in which students are fully supported before, during and after their time at UT,” Hartzell said.
A detailed list of initiatives is outlined in the president’s letter.
