Texas Law student Anthony Collier – joined by (l-r) UT student Zion James, UT professor Alberto Martínez, Texas NAACP President Gary Bledsoe, Rep. Ron Reynolds, and Dallas minister Lamont Ross – addressed reporters at a press conference denouncing The Eyes of Texas. (photo by Beth Sullivan)
Texas Black lawmakers, civil rights leaders, and students from the
University of Texas of Austin are calling on UT-Austin leadership to finally abandon the school s spirit song,
The Eyes of Texas.
On Monday, state Rep.
Texas NAACP President
Gary Bledsoe, Austin NAACP President
Nelson Linder, and members of the campus community to denounce UT s decision to keep the tune as its alma mater after last month s
My reaction to TEOT History Committee Report By UTgrad 08 on Mar 16, 2021, 10:00pm CDT 29
Well, I felt the need to provide my analysis on The Eyes of Texas History Committee s report, since I ve done a great deal of research on this topic myself since June (as many of you know). If you are tired of this topic, or feel like it s a horse that s simply beaten to death by now, I understand. Stop reading now, because this is a very long post. But if you are interested in my take, read on. However, this will most likely be my last long post on this issue, as the Committee s report has pretty much fully exposed the clear history of the TEOT for all to see, and it s unnecessary to keep promoting my research. Here we go:
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Source: Cheryl Gerber/AP Images for Allstate
“The Eyes of Texas,” the University of Texas’ (UT) beloved alma matter, has been deemed free from “nostalgia for slavery” and “racist intent,” so says an internal committee instituted by the school.
The committee was created in October of 2020 after multiple student-athletes sent a letter to the university asking for a new fight song “without racist undertones.”
In response, and in a rare example of modern institutional backbone, UT decided the century-old song would remain in place and instituted a committee composed “of former students, current students, administrators, faculty members, student athletes, retired administrators, spirit squad members, and communication specialists” to thoroughly analyze the song’s origins and institutional impact at the university.
UT’s school song had ‘no racist intent’ despite complicated history, report finds
Confronting not erasing the university’s past is key to uniting Longhorns, committee says.
A committee tasked with documenting the history of The Eyes of Texas, the University of Texas at Austin s controversial alma mater song, released a detailed report Tuesday along with 40 recommendations for the school to address its past and encourage difficult conversations.(Courtesy)
This story was updated throughout to include responses from UT alumni.
While “The Eyes of Texas” may have a troubled history, it wasn’t created with a racist intent and there is a “very low likelihood” that the song is actually linked to Confederate Army Commander Robert E. Lee, according to a University of Texas committee report.
When the familiar notes of “The Eyes of Texas” started to play from the speakers at the corner of the bar’s outdoor patio, conversations quieted and people began to sing.
Some were wearing matching T-shirts they had received upon entry to the bar, meant to signal their support for the song now washing over the students and alumni gathered to watch that Saturday’s football game.
It was one of many times that spectators at Cain and Abel s in West Campus would hear the University of Texas’ alma mater play during the game, and in any other year, the display would be perfectly normal.