The Texas Tech University system just told its faculty to keep classroom discussions strictly male-or-female, citing Trump’s executive order, Abbott’s letter, and a vague state law about collecting sex data. Translation: forget biology, sociology, or, you know, reality—class is now officially a 1950s sitcom.
This makes Tech one of the first major universities in the country to put such restrictions in writing, and it’s already sending professors into encrypted group chats like they’re planning a coup. Faculty say they’re “shellshocked” and confused, because the legislature hasn’t actually outlawed these discussions in higher ed. But the chancellor’s letter makes it clear: compliance over curiosity, fear over freedom.
Meanwhile, Angelo State (also under Tech’s umbrella) jumped ahead and told professors to literally skip parts of their curriculum if it mentions gender identity. Students can still write about the topic—but professors are only allowed to grade them on syntax. Nothing says “academic freedom” like grading a paper on pronoun usage without acknowledging pronouns.
And in the background, conservative lawmakers cheer. Social media warriors and state reps are already spiking the football, shouting about ending “indoctrination,” while professors are left wondering whether they’ll get fired for acknowledging Shakespeare used cross-dressing characters.
Texas Tech’s new motto might as well be: From here, it’s possible—as long as “here” is 1953.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/us/politics/texas-tech-gender.html
