The Big Picture
About 50 people gathered Sept. 25 outside University Baptist Church near the UT-Austin campus to protest recent academic changes at the university, arguing the moves amount to attacks on academic freedom. The demonstration was organized by the Texas State Employees Union and included speeches from students and university employees before a march down Guadalupe.
What Changed
UT consolidated four departments earlier this year into a new Department of Social and Cultural Analysis and later confirmed that new students will no longer be able to declare majors in three areas: African and African Diaspora Studies, Mexican American and Latina/o Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies. Students already enrolled may complete their degrees, and professors have until the end of the semester to propose new majors.
What's Next
The Texas State Employees Union said it will keep organizing until university leadership responds to students and faculty. The source does not provide a schedule of future demonstrations or additional university actions beyond the announced consolidation, and it does not list campus contacts or university replies beyond the explanations UT gave for the reorganization—citing student demand, departmental size and scope, academic mission, and resource distribution.
We will keep an eye on any follow-up planning from TSEU and notifications from UT; for now, the next concrete items are the professors' deadline to propose new majors by the end of the semester and the union's stated intention to continue organizing.