TX Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Puts CRT-Teaching Professors on Notice, Warns That They Could Lose Their Tenure

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick held a press conference on Friday warning professors who teach critical race theory that they could lose their tenure.

Patrick vows to pass legislation to prevent critical race theory from being taught in Texas colleges and universities.

The action by Patrick comes the same week that the University of Texas Faculty Council passed a non-binding resolution publicly asserting so-called academic freedom to teach social issues such as CRT.

“Tenure for these professors who voted 41-5 telling the voters and taxpayers the legislator and your own board of regents to get out of your business that we have no say to what goes on in the classroom. You opened the door for this issue because you went too far,” Patrick insisted.

Patrick accused the “woke left” of going too far in much of the rhetoric in the past few years including “defund the police” messaging and transgender policies.

Ultimately, Patrick said that he spoke with university leaders who believe that tenure has “outlived its time” and stated, “So what we will propose to do is end all tenure for all new hires.”

Additionally, Patrick explained that the language would be added to allow tenure could be revoked if professors teach CRT.

Ali S. Zaidi, the campaign manager for one of Patrick’s potential Democratic opponents, disagreed with Patrick and claimed in a tweet, “Dan Patrick’s threat to end tenure at @UTAustin would destroy our state’s flagship university and cause irreparable harm to Texas.”

“As a proud alum of @UTAustin, I will do everything in my power to defeat Dan Patrick and elect @CollierForTexas,” Zaidi added.

Dan Patrick’s threat to end tenure at @UTAustin would destroy our state’s flagship university and cause irreparable harm to Texas.

As a proud alum of @UTAustin, I will do everything in my power to defeat Dan Patrick and elect @CollierForTexas.

— Ali S. Zaidi (@alizaidiTX) February 18, 2022

It is time to end tenure at state universities in Texas.

Watch my official press conference here: https://t.co/nbNVwBy00G

— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) February 18, 2022