Texas Tech University has committed to implementing enhanced supervision measures in the wake of a recent seminar featuring drag queens, Texas Scorecard reported:
“In early June, a Cornell lecturer, dressed as a drag queen, hosted a seminar on “Queering Agriculture” for Texas Tech students. He told attendees to “sneak” queer examples and books into early education and encouraged the use of opposite sex restrooms.
“The event was brought to the attention of Texas Tech University leadership after it took place. Texas Tech officials explained that students inviting an external guest speaker is protected by the First Amendment and does not violate state law. However, the university’s administration has pledged action to ensure a program like this does not happen again and to follow the letter and spirit of state law banning DEI.
“This seminar was organized and conducted by a Texas Tech University student committee as part of a grant component requiring the promotion of ‘diversity and a culture of inclusion,’” explained Matt Dewey, Texas Tech’s vice president for marketing and communications, in a statement to Texas Scorecard. “The University believes the manner in which this event was conducted lacked transparency and is inconsistent with our commitment to complying with not only the letter, but also the spirit of SB 17. The University will better utilize advisors who can provide guidance regarding holding events on campus in the future.”
“The Seminar
“The seminar was held by the Center for Advancing Sustainable and Distributed Fertilizer Production. Also known as CASFER, this project takes various sources of waste to create nitrogen-based fertilizers. It is housed at Texas Tech and funded by the National Science Foundation. It has four other partners: Case Western Reserve University, Georgia Institute of Technology, the Massachusetts of Institute Technology, and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
“The “Queering Agriculture” took place on June 7, 2024, at 11:00 am via Zoom. Multiple Texas Tech employees were alarmed and contacted Texas Scorecard. One provided recordings and screenshots of the event.”
To read the entire Texas Scorecard article, click HERE.
