Texas A&M suspends professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in lecture

[douglas9]

he Texas A&M University professor had just returned home from giving a routine lecture on the opioid crisis at the University of Texas Medical Branch when she learned a student had accused her of disparaging Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during the talk.

In the few hours it took to drive from Galveston, the complaint had made its way to her supervisors, and Alonzo’s job was suddenly at risk.

“I am in a ton of trouble. Please call me!” she wrote to Chandler Self, the UTMB professor who invited her to speak.

Alonzo was right to be afraid. Not only were her supervisors involved, but so was Chancellor John Sharp, a former state comptroller who now holds the highest-ranking position in the Texas A&M University System, which includes 11 public universities and 153,000 students. And Sharp was communicating directly with the lieutenant governor’s office about the incident, promising swift action.

Less than two hours after the lecture ended, Patrick’s chief of staff had sent Sharp a link to Alonzo’s professional bio.

Shortly after, Sharp sent a text directly to the lieutenant governor: “Joy Alonzo has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation re firing her. shud [sic] be finished by end of week.”

The text message was signed “jsharp.”


https://www.click2houston.com/news/texas/2023/07/25/texas-am-suspended-professor-accused-of-criticizing-lt-gov-dan-patrick-in-lecture/

[Mad_Machine76]

1. First Amendment violation

much?!

[TexasTowelie]

4. Right to work state

so unless she has tenure she is vulnerable to repercussions.

[GreenWave]

6. If they swear to uphold the principals enshrined in the US constitution, state loses!

I did so in a right to work for less state.

[TexasTowelie]

7. Brazos County, where I currently live,

is probably the most conservative of the larger counties in Texas. Considering that the jury pool will likely have some current/former employees of Texas A&M, I doubt that a favorable verdict will be obtained.

Filing a lawsuit will also create further publicity which might be held against Ms. Alonzo if she has to seek other employment, particularly when the dominant employer in this region is Texas A&M and networking among alums is prominent.

[riversedge]

2. So, now Texas professors can not be critical of the Lt. Gov [and by extention Gov Abbott}}!!

[TexasTowelie]

3. That's the same John Sharp that was the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in 1998 and

2002. He was appointed chancellor at Texas A&M by Rick Perry. Sharp was not looked upon very favorably by state employees while he was comptroller and I was tempted to leave my ballot blank for the general election races where he was the Democratic candidate because I feel like he is a DINO who slashed budgets and programs just like a Republican. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Sharp isn't standing up for the professor. That opinion is based upon my experience as a leader of a state employee's group and also being friends with someone that worked in the Comptroller's office while Sharp lead the agency.

[MayReasonRule]

5. Thank you for that insight!