r/TexasTech

In a sweeping attack on freedom of speech and thought and science, Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, a public institution that serves 42,000 students, has issued a near total ban on the teaching, research and discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). This is in line with other attacks in Texas university systems.

The Draconian directive, announced in an April 9 memo from University Chancellor Brandon Creighton, is an obvious appeal to social and intellectual backwardness and an attempt to shove ultra-right Christian ideology down the throats of faculty, students and staff. This is only the thin end of the wedge, laying the groundwork for a far broader assault on critical investigations of modern society and, ultimately, of capitalism and the oppression and violence that flow from it. The “illegalization” of entire fields of study in this authoritarian manner has only sinister, Nazi-like implications.

>On April 9, 2026, Texas Tech University introduced a new policy ending student research related to sexual orientation and gender identity and phasing out academic programs “centered on” those topics.

>Texas Tech Chancellor Brandon Creighton communicated the new policy to faculty and staff through a memorandum, which recipients were asked not to share with prospective students. The policy built on the university’s prior efforts to restrict teaching on race, gender, and sexual identity (see report). The memo stated that graduate theses and dissertations could no longer focus on topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity; however, it permitted currently enrolled students to complete their research on those topics. It also asked provosts at all Texas Tech institutions to identify academic programs “centered on” sexual orientation and gender identity by June 15 and to refrain from admitting new students or allowing students to declare majors in those programs. “Centered on” was vaguely defined as a program in which “sexual orientation or gender identity serves as the primary subject, main theoretical framework, central narrative, or driving pedagogical purpose.” The memo permitted students already enrolled in the identified programs to finish their degrees. More broadly, the memo prohibited instructors from teaching “that gender identity is a fluid spectrum, endors[ing] the existence of more than two genders, or decoupl[ing] gender from biological sex as a factual or scientific baseline.”

>Scholars at Risk is concerned about a state higher education official ordering restrictions on research and teaching of disfavored topics, apparently without any academic reasoning or justification, in terms that are vague and overbroad, increasing the risk of sanctions and other negative impacts, including self-censorship. Arbitrary government-affiliated restrictions on research and teaching content harm academic freedom, free expression, and democratic society generally.

Update #3: Just received an email from my school confirming our backup plan is a go so I have regalia on campus I’ll be able to borrow! Thank you all so much for the advice and leads.

Update #2: have a strong on campus lead that staff are helping me coordinate

Update#1: working on a couple leads

Original: My custom regalia was supposed to ship overnight Friday and today I am told they’re still making it. 🫠 I fly out in 36 hours from California so I’m hoping someone local to TTU has something I can perhaps borrow. Ceremony is Thursday 1pm. I’m 5’1 but I’m desperate so probably any size will do.