Latest news with #TexasA&MBoardofRegents
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Texas A&M's Drag Ban Shows the Threat to Campus Free Speech Is Bipartisan
This week a federal judge stepped in to save a student-sponsored drag show at Texas A&M University. The need for that intervention shows that efforts to control on-campus speech, long decried by conservatives who complained of censorship by intolerant progressives, are a bipartisan phenomenon. Men have been dressing as women in theatrical performances for millennia—a history that includes ancient Greek dramas, 16th century productions of Shakespeare's plays, and popular films such as Hairspray, Tootsie, Mrs. Doubtfire, and White Chicks. But the continuation of that tradition was too much for the Texas A&M Board of Regents, which last month banned "drag shows that involve biological males dressing as women" from "special event venues." That decree put the kibosh to Draggieland, an annual event sponsored by the Texas A&M Queer Empowerment Council. The organization had already reserved the Rudder Theatre at the university's College Station campus and sold tickets for the show, which was scheduled for March 27. The theater previously had been available for a wide variety of events, including comedies, musicals, ballet, political speeches, and a fraternity-sponsored beauty pageant. Although the theater had never rejected a reservation request, the regents unanimously decided that Draggieland was beyond the pale because it was "likely to create or contribute to a hostile environment for women," thereby violating federal law and the university's "anti-discrimination policy." The regents also cited President Donald Trump's January 20 executive order aimed at "defending women from gender ideology extremism and restoring biological truth to the federal government," which Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had welcomed in a January 30 letter instructing state officials that their policies must conform with "the biological reality that there are only two sexes." The regents worried that allowing drag shows "may be considered promotion of gender ideology in violation of the Executive Order and the Governor's directive." These concerns were legally and logically frivolous. It was utterly implausible that an annual event attended only by paying patrons could result in harassment "severe" and "pervasive" enough to create a "hostile environment," and it was quite a stretch to suggest that cross-dressing in the context of a drag show denies the "biological reality" that Abbott is keen to uphold. Even as the regents worried that Draggieland promoted "gender ideology," they argued that it did not actually send any message at all—a point that was crucial to their position that canceling the event did not implicate the First Amendment. And even as they explicitly targeted a particular viewpoint, they denied that they were doing any such thing. U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal had little trouble seeing through the double-talk. In the decision that allowed Draggieland to proceed as planned, she noted that federal courts had almost uniformly recognized drag shows as a form of constitutionally protected expression. Rosenthal, who was appointed by George H.W. Bush in 1992, is hardly a "Radical Left Lunatic"—the label that Trump reflexively applies to judges who disagree with him. Nor is U.S. District Judge David Hittner, a Ronald Reagan appointee who ruled that a Texas law "touted as a 'Drag Ban'" was unconstitutional in a 2023 decision that Rosenthal cited. "In recent years, the commitment to free speech on campuses has been both challenging and challenged," Rosenthal noted. "There have been efforts from all sides of the political spectrum to disrupt or prevent students, faculty, and others from expressing opinions and speech that are deemed, or actually are, offensive or wrong." The victims of those efforts have included conservatives who condemn abortion, promote "a Christian perspective," or chafe at speech restrictions in the guise of fighting "discriminatory harassment"—exactly the tactic that Texas A&M attempted in this case. Instead of picking up the unconstitutional weapons that have been deployed against them, conservatives who want to ensure their own protection should take a page from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which represented Draggieland's sponsor in this case, by embracing an even-handed application of free speech principles. © Copyright 2025 by Creators Syndicate Inc. The post Texas A&M's Drag Ban Shows the Threat to Campus Free Speech Is Bipartisan appeared first on
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Railroad commissioner, Texas business man announced campaign for Comptroller
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Christi Craddick, the chair of the Railroad Commission of Texas, and Don Huffines, a Texas businessman and former state Senator, both launched their campaign for Texas Comptroller after the current state Comptroller, Glenn Hegar, became the sole finalist for Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. RELATED | Texas A&M Board of Regents names Glenn Hegar as university system's next leader Craddick has served as the Chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas for more than a decade. The RRC regulates the state's oil and gas industry, pipeline safety, and natural gas utilities. 'Throughout my tenure at the Commission, we have managed our work with efficiency, transparency, and common sense, reflecting the bedrock principles the Texas economy has been built upon, and our commitment to the principles of a free market have helped our economy thrive,' Craddick said in a news release announcing her candidacy. 'At the heart of all good government, good business and fiscal responsibility is one simple fact: Don't spend money you don't have.' Craddick's full statement is below: Huffines served four years in the Texas Senate from 2015 to 2019. He ran against Gov. Greg Abbott in the Republican primaries in 2022 and finished third in the polls earning 12% of the vote. He said he is committing $10 million to his campaign on day one. 'As comptroller, I will DOGE Texas by exposing waste, fraud, and abuse in government to increase efficiency and put every penny we save into property tax relief.' Huffines' full news release is below: Both of these announcements come after the Texas A&M University System's Board of Regents selected Hegar as the sole finalist to be the next chancellor. 'The opportunity to serve as the next Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System is a tremendous honor, and I want to thank each of the Regents for their confidence, yet more importantly for their energy, passion, dedication, and constant commitment to excellence,' Hegar said in a news release Friday morning. 'I look forward to working with the Regents, as we set forth a bold vision to better serve our students, the people of Texas, and our Nation.' A spokesperson for the Texas Comptroller's Office said the agency does not have further comment at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Christi Craddick, Don Huffines announce bids for Texas comptroller after Hegar tapped for A&M chancellor
Texas Railroad Commission Chair Christi Craddick and former GOP state Sen. Don Huffines announced Friday they are running for comptroller, minutes after the office's current occupant, Glenn Hegar, was named chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Hegar's impending departure from the comptroller's seat creates a rare opening for one of Texas' coveted statewide offices, most of which have remained occupied for the last decade. [Texas A&M Board of Regents names Glenn Hegar as university system's next leader] Once Hegar leaves office, Gov. Greg Abbott will be tasked with appointing a replacement to serve out the remainder of his term, which runs through January 2027. The seat is up for reelection in 2026. The comptroller serves as the state's chief financial officer, accountant, revenue estimator and treasurer. Abbott has not revealed his pick to succeed Hegar. Huffines, a businessman and GOP donor who challenged Abbott unsuccessfully in the 2022 gubernatorial primary, pledged to spend at least $10 million on his comptroller bid. If elected, he said, 'I will DOGE Texas by exposing waste, fraud, and abuse in government to increase efficiency and put every penny we save into property tax relief.' Craddick, a Republican, has served on the oil-and-gas-regulating Texas Railroad Commission since 2012. She easily cruised to reelection last year, winning another six-year term through the end of 2030. She will not have to give up her seat on the commission to run for comptroller. Craddick, an attorney from Midland, is the daughter of Rep. Tom Craddick, a former House speaker. 'Serving for more than a decade as Railroad Commissioner has uniquely prepared me to help Texas build upon its momentum as the economic engine of the United States,' Christi Craddick said in a statement. She added that during her time on the commission, 'we have managed our work with efficiency, transparency, and common sense, reflecting the bedrock principles the Texas economy has been built upon.' We can't wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
