Texas A&M University's president steps down amidst backlash concerning a professor's lesson on gender identity.
Mark A. Welsh III, a retired four-star general, is stepping down as president of Texas A&M University in College Station, following a week of controversy over the dismissal of a professor teaching about gender identities.
The resignation comes after a "whistleblower" video went viral on X (formerly known as Twitter) on September 8. The video featured an unidentified student expressing concerns about a professor's presentation on gender and sexuality, stating it might be illegal due to there being only two genders, according to President Joe Biden, and that it violated their religious beliefs.
The video and an audio recording of Welsh initially refusing to fire the professor first circulated online on September 8 after a state lawmaker shared it on X. However, the professor was dismissed by Texas A&M University the day after the video was posted, with Welsh taking the decision.
The firing did not appease the state lawmaker or Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who thought Welsh mishandled the matter. Last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick posted on X, expressing disapproval of Welsh's handling of the issue and the dismissal of the student's concerns.
The controversy has raised questions about a professor's teaching on gender identity issues and has drawn outrage from Republicans nationwide. Welsh's dismissal of the professor, who is not explicitly named in the search results, was due to political pressure and controversy surrounding the video.
Welsh has been the president of Texas A&M University since 2023. His tenure, however, has been short-lived, as he is the second person in a row to last only two years in the A&M presidency.
Chancellor Glenn Hegar has expressed gratitude for Welsh's service and contributions. Welsh's last day on the job is Friday. The search for a new president is expected to begin soon.
The resignation is a significant development in the ongoing debate about academic freedom and the role of universities in discussing sensitive topics like gender and sexuality. It remains to be seen how this will impact the future of Texas A&M University and higher education in general.
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