Dear Longhorns,

Texas is thriving, and because of that, our campus is the place to be. Sometimes that draws outsiders who want to be in our spotlight. They say things at UT and about UT. They say things to you and about you. As we’ve seen recently, sometimes those outsiders say vile and abhorrent things that should have no place at UT Austin.

Some ask, why are they allowed to do that? In the cases of the speakers this semester, they were invited on our campus by UT student groups. And invited speakers under the law have speech rights.

Student groups could choose not to invite them. The University can and has chosen not to invite them. But the University cannot cancel a student group’s choice to invite a speaker even when many and nearly all of us find the speech offensive and wrong. We all know that when we give it a minute of thought, it doesn’t make the experience hearing the speech any better.

Some ask what can we do about it if they say terrible things? It is a sad part of our modern lives that people can and do say terrible things, even utterly reprehensible things. They do it on social media. And sometimes they do it when they are invited to our campus.

I can’t make the pain of experiencing offensive comments go away. I know this is easy to say and hard to do, but don’t stop to listen. Don’t stop to engage if you don’t want to be part of it. Don’t take the bait of someone seeking to provoke you. They don’t define you, your character, or your place in the world and on your campus. These outsiders certainty don’t define UT.

And if you are a student group thinking about inviting an outside speaker, choose wisely. I ask you to consider how your choice affects your fellow Longhorns. And remember the choices you make follow you over time.

As always, we will follow the law and do what it takes to keep you and the campus safe. We have no tolerance for behavior that breaks our rules or breaks the law, recognizing behavior and speech are not the same thing. We also have started a review of our rules and processes, which will include the perspectives of student leaders, to evaluate how we work with student groups who plan future events with outside speakers. Based on that review, we will take actions designed to support you and protect our campus culture, always within the boundaries of the First Amendment and state law.

To our students, know that you are exceptional. We are proud of you. Remember you are all Longhorns. You are today, you are tomorrow, and you always will be.

Hook ’em!

Jim Davis
President