Is higher education doomed in Texas because of current Republicans at the state Capitol? Let’s consider two bills promoted by our lieutenant governor and others.
1. Senate Bill 16, relating to the purpose of public institutions of higher education and a prohibition on compelling students enrolled at those institutions to adopt certain beliefs. As a retired biology professor, I wonder if evolution, which is the core theme of biology, will be actionable under this law, or considered to be antithetical to creationism. What about the female reproductive cycle and birth control methods — will these topics be outlawed also as too progressive for discussion?
2. SB 18, relating to tenure and employment status at public institutions of higher education in this state. This bill revokes or eliminates tenure for staff at public universities hired after Jan. 1, 2024. Shouldn’t we worry that this bill will act as a deterrent for research and highly qualified faculty to apply at Texas universities and instead by default, attract less-qualified people? Will this bill be similar to the “heartbeat bill” that already is threatening women’s care in obstetrics because of its draconian measures?
The Washington Post reported in April that the states that have enacted abortion bans saw a 10.5% drop in applicants for obstetrics and gynecology residencies in 2023 from the previous year, citing Association of American Medical Colleges data.
Is this where Texas is heading, inferior education and inferior women’s health care? But most importantly, how will these bills impact UTRGV, its medical school, and our own Rio GrandeValley?
It’s time to talk seriously to all your elected representatives.
Diane Teter
Edinburg
Representative
garners attack
Texas State Rep. Keith Self, R-Allen, was interviewed on May 8 night to get his reaction to the shooting, zeroing in on what Self believes the next steps should be. “Well, those are people that don’t believe in an almighty God who, who has, who is absolutely in control of our lives. I’m a Christian. I believe that he is.”
If his God or any God is in charge, then he should be charged with the mass killings. As an agent of God, every pastor should be charged as an accomplice and forced to pay restitution to the victims. God shows his followers how to be cruel and vicious. America’s Godfather.
Thomas Paine, said, “It is from the Bible that man has learned cruelty, rapine, and murder; for the belief of a cruel God makes a cruel man.” That God can be eliminated by people not believing in him. He can go the way of Zeus and Bal.
The Christian nationalists say having more guns will solve the problem. The mass killer at the Allen mall had more guns than he could carry at one time. Was the problem solved? He was an adherent to the Nazi philosophy and wanted anyone not white and Christian eliminated. He was a Fox watcher and was upset by the Zionist replacement and Black Lives Matter.
Hank Shiver
Mission
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