Editing University of Texas at Austin (section)

==== 2024 pro-Palestinian protests ====
{{main|2024 University of Texas at Austin pro-Palestinian campus protests}}
[[File:Protest Image UT Austin (4).jpg|thumb|A police group has arrested a protestor with zip ties. Both protestors and student observers and other watchers have surrounded the police in outrage.]]
On February 4, 2024, a [[Palestinian Americans|Palestinian-American]] student at a pro-Palestinian protest at the campus was stabbed, receiving non-life-threatening injuries.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Aguasvivas |first1=Arleen |last2=Chan |first2=Melissa |last3=Essamuah |first3=Zinhle |date=2024-02-07 |title=Stabbing of Palestinian American man in Texas was motivated by bias, police say |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/stabbing-palestinian-american-man-texas-motivated-bias-police-say-rcna137783 |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=[[NBC News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Oladipo |first=Gloria |date=2024-02-08 |title=Stabbing of Palestinian American in Texas a hate crime, police say |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/08/texas-palestinian-american-stabbing-hate-crime |access-date=2024-05-20 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |oclc=60623878}}</ref> The attacker used a racial slur against the protestors and the attack was investigated as a [[hate crime]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=Stabbing of Palestinian American near the University of Texas meets hate crime standard, police say |url=https://apnews.com/article/palestinian-american-stabbing-hate-crime-texas-13c90b4d69e9c75467f94a0f5b2ea88d |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=Austin police say West Campus attack meets hate crime definition |url=https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-stabbing-hate-crime-west-campus/269-1edc5391-011b-4f25-b4c8-8f038f9c3ff1 |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=[[KVUE]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Ramkissoon |first1=Jaclyn |last2=Jones |first2=Abigail |last3=Washington |first3=Jala |last4=Huey |first4=Dalton |date=2024-02-06 |title=APD: Committee says stabbing near UT campus meets definition of hate crime |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/crime/stabbing-near-ut-campus-will-be-reviewed-by-hate-crimes-committee-apd-says/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=[[KXAN-TV]] |language=en-US |archive-date=July 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718090511/https://www.kxan.com/news/crime/stabbing-near-ut-campus-will-be-reviewed-by-hate-crimes-committee-apd-says/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> A month later the attacker was indicted by a [[grand jury]] on an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge but was not charged with any additional hate crime charge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schnitker |first=Andrew |date=2024-04-23 |title=Man indicted in UT West Campus stabbing of Palestinian American |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/man-indicted-in-ut-west-campus-stabbing-of-palestinian-american/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=[[KXAN-TV]] |language=en-US |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520144206/https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/man-indicted-in-ut-west-campus-stabbing-of-palestinian-american/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Police officers arrest a young protester.jpg|thumb|Police arrest a protester present at the April 24, 2024, pro-Palestinian protest on the South Lawn of the University of Texas at Austin]]
A large student and faculty Pro-Palestinian protest occurred on April 24, 2024, demanding a ceasefire in the [[Gaza war]] and that the university divest from companies profiting from Israel's actions.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last1=Kepner |first1=Lily |last2=Moreno-Paz |first2=Bianca |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Live: UT-Austin professors plan protest with students, PSC calls for Hartzell's resignation |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/education/2024/04/25/ut-austin-professors-students-pro-palestinian-protest-campus-live-updates/73450483007/ |access-date=April 25, 2024 |work=[[Austin American-Statesman]]}}</ref> The protests occurred amidst the [[April 2024 Israel–Hamas war protests on United States university campuses|ongoing nationwide demonstrations on college campuses]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bushard |first=Brian |title=Texas Troopers Arrest University Of Texas Students During Protest |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2024/04/24/texas-troopers-arrest-university-of-texas-students-during-protest/ |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-24 |title=Campus protests live update: Encampments continue at Columbia as police descend on protesters at University of Texas at Austin |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/columbia-protests-live-update-encampment-continue-college-negotiates-p-rcna149111 |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

In response, the university, under the explicit direction of President Hartzell,<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1783657338836033541 |user=thedailytexan |title=BREAKING: UT President Jay Hartzell's messages with a state senator and the UT System Chancellor reveal he requested additional help from DPS at yesterday's protest because "our police force couldn't do it alone," according to messages obtained by The Austin American-Statesman. |author=The Daily Texan |author-link=The Daily Texan |date=April 25, 2024 |access-date=April 25, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1783647439955660882 |user=RyanChandlerTV |title=It was President Hartzell himself who called in DPS to respond to the protests yesterday, UT tells me. "That was President Hartzell. That was President Hartzell. Along with his leadership team and UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife," Comms Director Mike Rosen said. |first=Ryan |last=Chandler |date=April 25, 2024 |access-date=April 25, 2024}}</ref> requested the assistance of the [[Austin Police Department|Austin Police Department (APD)]] and the [[Texas Department of Public Safety|Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)]], in coordination with [[Governor of Texas|Texas Governor]] [[Greg Abbott]], in an attempt to quell said protests and an "occupation" of the university,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Dey |first1=Sneha |last2=Mohamed |first2=Ikram |last3=Xia |first3=Annie |last4=Melhado |first4=William |date=April 24, 2024 |title=Police arrest more than two dozen pro-Palestine protesters on UT-Austin campus amid tense standoff |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/24/ut-austin-israel-hamas-war-palestine-student-arrests/ |access-date=April 24, 2024 |work=[[The Texas Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Leija |first=Ren |date=April 24, 2024 |title=Hundreds of UT Austin students, faculty gather on campus for pro-Palestinian protest |url=https://thedailytexan.com/2024/04/24/hundreds-of-ut-austin-students-faculty-gather-on-campus-for-pro-palestinian-protest/ |work=[[The Daily Texan]]}}</ref> in contrast to [[Freedom of speech|free speech]] on campus laws praised by Abbott and the university in prior years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Irwin |first=Lauren |date=April 24, 2024 |title=Abbott says pro-Palestine protesters at UT Austin 'belong in jail' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4619310-abbott-says-pro-palestine-protestors-at-ut-austin-belong-in-jail/ |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref> The deployment of multiple police units led to the confirmed arrest of 57 protesters, including a photojournalist for Fox 7 Austin, with several more detained.<ref name=":02" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Velez |first=Abigail |date=April 24, 2024 |title="This was supposed to be peaceful": Dozens detained at UT Austin protest |url=https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/this-was-supposed-to-be-peaceful-dozens-detained-at-ut-austin-protest |access-date=April 24, 2024 |work=CBS Austin}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=<!--Not stated-->  |date=April 24, 2024 |title=At least 50 arrested at pro-Palestine protests on UT Austin campus |url=https://www.kvue.com/video/news/local/at-least-50-arrested-at-pro-palestine-protests-on-ut-austin-campus/269-826b6c92-c71f-402e-bad0-6b731d0d6a4b |access-date=April 24, 2024 |work=KVUE Austin}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=April 25, 2024 |title=University of Texas Palestine protest leads to more than 30 arrests, including FOX 7 photographer |url=https://www.fox7austin.com/news/ut-texas-protest-palestine-israel-gaza-rally-college-university-campus |access-date=October 21, 2024 |work=FOX 7 Austin}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Paul |first=Kari |date=April 24, 2024 |title=Fox journalist among dozens arrested at Texas university as protests swell |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/24/university-of-texas-austin-campus-protest |access-date=April 24, 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Charges were then dismissed against 46 protesters the next day, leading to their subsequent release,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Andrew |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Charges dismissed against 46 arrested during pro-Palestinian protest at UT Austin |url=https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2024-04-25/ut-austin-palestinian-protest-charges-dismissed-israel-gaza-war |work=KUT News}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Robertson |first=Nick |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Texas prosecutor declines to charge student protesters arrested at UT Austin |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4622482-texas-student-protesters-arrests-ut-austin-israel/ |access-date=April 25, 2024 |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref> with the charges against the remaining 11 protesters dropped on April 26, 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Andrew |date=April 26, 2024 |title=Charges dropped against all 57 pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested on UT campus |url=https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2024-04-26/ut-austin-protesters-israel-gaza-war-charges-dropped-delia-garza |access-date=April 26, 2024 |work=[[KUT|KUT News]]}}</ref>
[[File:Police tackle a pro-Palestinian protester.jpg|thumb|A protester is tackled by police and arrested at the pro-Palestinian protest on April 24, 2024, at the University of Texas at Austin.]]
This decision received sharp backlash, including from general faculty, staff, students, several [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] legislators for the region, and [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] advocacy groups,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grant |first=Matt |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Press freedom advocates want change following Austin photojournalist protest arrest |url=https://www.kxan.com/investigations/press-freedom-advocates-want-change-following-austin-photojournalist-protest-arrest/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=t.co |access-date=April 25, 2024 |work=[[KXAN-TV]] |archive-date=April 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426021555/https://www.kxan.com/investigations/press-freedom-advocates-want-change-following-austin-photojournalist-protest-arrest/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=t.co |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Elbein |first=Saul |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Texas Gov. Abbott faces backlash after mass arrest at UT Austin pro-Palestine protest |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4620838-texas-governor-abbott-backlash-mass-arrest-ut-austin-pro-palestine-protest/ |access-date=April 25, 2024 |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref> including an official statement from the UT Faculty Council Executive Committee denouncing it,<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last1=Downen |first1=Robert |last2=Mohamed |first2=Ikram |last3=Melhado |first3=William |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Faculty petition to hold no-confidence vote in UT-Austin president after protest response |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/ut-austin-palestine-protest-fallout/ |access-date=April 25, 2024 |work=[[The Texas Tribune]]}}</ref> in part due to the extreme, chaotic, and violent police response that ensued and alleged violations of [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] rights.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Perry |first1=Nick |last2=Vertuno |first2=Jim |last3=Coronado |first3=Acacia |date=April 24, 2024 |title=Dozens arrested on California campus after students in Texas detained as Gaza war protests persist |url=https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-campus-protests-47f4f7f0916a6493b79eede3e4d0a55d |website=[[AP News]]}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Downen |first=Robert |date=April 25, 2024 |title=UT-Austin faculty criticizes response to pro-Palestine walkout as students plan new protest |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/ut-austin-palestine-protest-fallout/ |access-date=April 25, 2024 |work=[[The Texas Tribune]]}}</ref> The university additionally set new rules for protests on campus, such as banning masks and face coverings and instituting a 10 PM curfew for all protests, directly contradicting prior guidelines.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1783569099005501657 |user=stevanzetti |title=NEW: UT Austin released "protest rules" that say "individuals may not come to campus without authorization," which is in direct contradiction to a video they published 6 months ago that says members of the public can "come to campus at any time and engage in demonstrations." |first=Steven |last=Monacelli |date=April 25, 2024 |access-date=April 25, 2024}}</ref> Initially, the university told students and faculty that arrested protestors would no longer be allowed on campus, but retracted the statement two hours later, stating that they would be allowed "academic" access, only to then announce a change to full access for university affiliates.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=McGlinchy |first1=Audrey |last2=McGaughy |first2=Lauren |date=April 26, 2024 |title=UT Austin changes message again, says arrested students will be allowed on campus for any reason |url=https://www.kut.org/education/2024-04-26/ut-austin-protest-arrests-campus-ban |access-date=April 26, 2024 |work=[[KUT|KUT News]]}}</ref> Additionally, the university temporarily suspended the student organization that organized the protests, the Palestine Solidarity Committee.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1783657533573316971 |user=RyanChandlerTV |title=Breaking: UT's Palestine Solidarity Committee receives an "interim suspension," an internal memo obtained by @KXAN_News states. UT leaders say they made attempts to meet with organizers beforehand. |first=Ryan |last=Chandler |date=April 25, 2024 |access-date=April 25, 2024}}</ref> [[Travis County, Texas|Travis County]] Attorney Delia Garza stated that the way that the university handled the protests put a strain on the local criminal justice system, specifically reprimanding the sending of protestors to jail for low-level charges.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Pauda |first1=Erica |last2=Jones |first2=Abigail |last3=Schnitker |first3=Andrew |date=April 30, 2024 |title=Monday's UT protest arrest cases remain active, County Attorney says |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/ut-students-made-up-less-than-half-of-monday-protest-arrests-ut-source-says/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |work=[[KXAN]] |archive-date=May 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240502073510/https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/ut-students-made-up-less-than-half-of-monday-protest-arrests-ut-source-says/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A report later released by the UT Austin Committee of Counsel on Academic Freedom and Responsibility (CCAFR) on July 17, 2024, found that UT Austin administrators violated its own institutional rules in clear disregard of freedom of speech and expression protections.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGlinchy |first=Audrey |date=July 31, 2024 |title=UT Austin committee says administrators violated own rules when handling protests |url=https://www.kut.org/education/2024-07-31/ut-austin-committee-of-counsel-on-academic-freedom-and-responsibility-report-pro-palestinian-protests |access-date=August 1, 2024 |work=[[KUT|KUT News]]}}</ref>

On April 8, 2025, the University of Texas at Austin announced the removal of its graduation requirement for "Flag" courses, including the Cultural Diversity in the United States Flag. Interim Provost David Vanden Bout stated that while the core curriculum remains required, students are no longer obligated to complete Flag courses to graduate. The decision follows increased scrutiny of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in Texas, including the passage of Senate Bill 17, which banned DEI offices at public universities.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Abrams |first=Cameron |title=UT Austin Scraps 'Flag' Courses, Including 'Cultural Diversity' Requirement |url=https://thetexan.news/issues/education/ut-austin-scraps-flag-courses-including-cultural-diversity-requirement/article_cdd2161a-1a43-401f-855e-4afead144d98.html |access-date=2025-04-09 |work=The Texan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Isaiah |title=UT eliminates flag system requirement for classes, graduation |url=https://thedailytexan.com/2025/04/07/ut-eliminates-flag-system-requirement-for-classes-graduation/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=The Daily Texan}}</ref>