Austin Community College's New Free Speech Policy Adds Islamophobic, Racist & Homophobic Protections Despite Gov. Abbott's Focus on Antisemitism

As the final item at a recent meeting, the Austin Community College board approved updates to the school's free speech policies to comply with Gov. Abbott's EO: https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/EO-GA-44_antisemitism_in_institutions_of_higher_ed_IMAGE_03-27-2024.pdf

Abbott mandated TX colleges adopt TX's definition of antisemitism and update free speech policies. Interestingly, Islamophobia—on the rise since Oct. 7, 2022—was omitted from the EO.

Board members at ACC went beyond the EO, adding definitions and protections against Islamophobic, racist, and homophobic speech, thus protecting those targeted by such hate speech. Meeting minutes show a request to "expand the scope of the defined protected classifications."

ACC is the only analyzed institution that added these protections. They also added a new Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation policy, and specified that disruptive behavior interfering with education won't be tolerated. A rule against erecting tents without approval was also added, likely in response to national pro-Palestinian protests.

ACC's statement: "The college firmly supports the rights of every individual and campus group to voice their opinions...Student organizations representing diverse viewpoints are empowered and encouraged." https://sites.austincc.edu/administrative-rules/?p=1520

Other TX Universities' Responses:

Texas State University combined four previous policies into one, adding camping definitions and prohibiting it without approval. https://policies.txst.edu/university-policies/07-04-01.html#section.02.05

Texas A&M University revised policies on June 25, adding definitions for "illegal harassment," "inciting imminent lawless action," and "true threats." https://www.tamu.edu/free-speech/

University of Houston revised policies on May 30, adding only Gov's definition of antisemitism. They've met with Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish students to affirm free expression commitments. https://uh.edu/policies/_docs/mapp/01/010501.pdf

UT-San Antonio updated policies on June 6 after facing scrutiny for threatening to remove students chanting a pro-Palestinian phrase. They now state that unlawful discrimination impacting the educational environment won't be tolerated. https://www.utsa.edu/free-speech/

Texas Tech University made minimal changes, only adding Gov's definition of antisemitism. They've only modified what was required by the EO.