The University of Texas has spoken out after a media email from donors who were angry about players speaking out against the school’s “Eyes of Texas” song.
On Monday, the Texas Tribune published emails from donors who wanted the school to continue playing the song with racist roots. Black players at the school stood up against the continued playing of the song and asked the school to re-evaluate the players’ participation in the song.
Texas President Jay Hartzell said in a statement on Tuesday that emails with a “hateful view” from some donors are not a representative example of the school’s donor and alumni base. Here is Hartzell’s complete statement:
“People who target our students with hateful opinions do not represent the values of the Longhorn community. Some extremist views in the sample of emails reported by the Texas Tribune do not speak to the 540,000 proud Longhorn alumni that our students and university actively supported.Of the many emails I received this fall, they contained a very small number of comments that were really disgusting and hateful.I reject them categorically, and they have no bearing on any aspect of our decision making.
The fact that we do not all agree on our school song does not mean that we do not all belong. Next week, the Eyes of Texas History Committee will release its report. Equipped with a general set of facts, we will continue the conversation about our song. After talking to students and faculties in the committee, I believe we can be a model for how communities address complex issues and move forward together.
In June, UT athletes asked the school to replace the song because of its racist roots. It was first performed on a minster show in the 1900s and is derived from a phrase uttered by former Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Some emails are aimed at the activism of players
The Tribune received about 300 emails from alumni to Hartzell about the song from June to October. A significant majority of the emails wanted to keep the song in place. And some of the majority used fuel language in their emails.
One donor wrote that the school needs its wealthy contributors “more than they need one crop of irresponsible and uniform students or faculty who will not do what they are paid for.” Another writes that the school must put its foot down and ‘make it clear that the heritage of Texas will not be lost’.
The issue has been one of the biggest at the university for the past nine months because the school’s group has not played the song during the last two home games of the season. The song was rather played over the speakers as the school was committed to its ritual after the game.
The new coach of Texas, Steve Sarkisian, was even asked at his introductory press conference in January about the song’s place at school. Sarkisian said his team will be ‘fired up’ in 2021 to sing the song.
What the committee is doing
The Eyes of Texas History Committee referred to in Hartzell’s statement above was formed by the school in 2020. The chairman of the committee is dr. Richard Reddick, the school’s co – dean for equity, community involvement and outreach in the school’s teaching college. The task is to document the facts, intent, origin and elements of the song, its institutional use of the school and to recommend ‘potential communication tactics and / or strategies to commemorate the history of’ The Eyes of Texas’. ”
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