Takeaways

• Texas A&M professor Melissa McCoul is disputing her firing, saying her course content matched the official description.
• The controversy erupted after a viral classroom video, sparking political backlash and faculty shake-ups.
• Republican lawmakers and state officials are pressuring Texas A&M leadership, while McCoul explores legal action.

Texas A&M University is facing mounting scrutiny after firing professor Melissa McCoul, who is now disputing the university’s claims and considering legal action.

McCoul, who taught an upper-level children’s literature course, was dismissed on Tuesday after a viral video showed her in a tense exchange with a student. The clip captured a student objecting to a discussion on gender identity, citing religious beliefs and former President Donald Trump’s executive order. McCoul responded that she had a right to teach the material, while the student had the right to leave.

The university cited McCoul’s alleged failure to adjust her course to align with official descriptions as the reason for termination. But her attorney, Amanda Reichek, pushed back, arguing that the course content matched catalog requirements and had been taught for years without issue. Reichek said McCoul has filed an appeal and is weighing further legal options.

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The firing has fueled a political storm. Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III initially defended McCoul’s teaching but later dismissed her, revoked her duties as the English department head, and demoted Mark Zoran, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Welsh said the faculty members approved material inconsistent with published course descriptions. The university has not clarified whether Zoran and the department head were fired or reassigned.

The decision followed pressure from Republican lawmakers. Texas Rep. Brian Harrison, a vocal critic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, released audio of Welsh defending McCoul during a private meeting with the student. Harrison later demanded Welsh’s resignation, while Gov. Greg Abbott called McCoul’s dismissal necessary.

In response to the uproar, the Texas A&M Board of Regents announced a full audit of courses to ensure legal compliance. Chancellor Glenn Hegar praised Welsh for acting, while the university emphasized McCoul’s non-tenured status despite her decade-long teaching career.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division also took note. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon called the case “deeply concerning” on X and said the agency would review it, though officials later declined to comment further.

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The controversy underlines ongoing battles over academic freedom, classroom instruction, and state oversight in Texas universities. Welsh, who became president in 2023, took office just as lawmakers banned DEI offices at public institutions. The clash with McCoul now highlights how education and politics are increasingly intertwined in Texas higher education.

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Source: THE TEXAS TRIBUNE