Infomaniacs: April 03, 2018 (6:00am)

ACLU Sues Texas A&M Board of Regents Over Censorship

The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the Texas A&M Board of Regents on behalf of the America Association of University Professors and four Texas A&M professors. Leonard Bright teaches ethics at the Bush School of Government and Public Service. Vanita Reddy is Associate Professor of English and Core Faculty in Women’s and Gender Studies. Landon Sadler is a lecturer in the College of Arts & Sciences. Aaron George is an assistant professor at Tarleton State. The complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief was filed Monday in United States District Court – Southern District of Texas – Houston Division, argues that the censorship policy is unconstitutionally vague and violates the First Amendment by discriminating against certain viewpoints. They say they are prohibited from discussing certain topics and viewpoints related to race, sexual orientation, and gender. The following sections from the complaint describe each plaintiff’s background and their particular basis for the lawsuit: “Plaintiff Dr. Leonard Bright is a tenured full Professor at Texas A&M University, College Station’s Bush School of Government and Public Service. Dr. Bright also serves as the President of the AAUP Chapter at College Station. In implementing the Censorship Policy, the University canceled a graduate seminar Dr. Bright usually teaches titled Ethics in Public Policy, which covers topics concerning ethical decision-making in public service. His class was flagged as potentially violating the Policy during Texas A&M’s syllabus review, and, in this discussion format course in which these topics were expected to arise organically, he was asked to identify exactly which days the concept of sexual orientation may come up. Because Dr. Bright could not identify discrete times when “sexual orientation” might come up in the course or in student discussions, his class was canceled three days after the Spring semester began.” “Plaintiff Professor Vanita Reddy is a tenured Associate Professor in English and a core Women’s and Gender Studies faculty member at Texas A&M University, College Station, in the College of Arts and Sciences. Following implementation of the Censorship Policy, Professor Reddy’s section of English/Women’s and Gender Studies 333 course on LGBTQ literature was canceled for the Fall 2026 semester without allowing her an opportunity to submit a syllabus for review.” “Plaintiff Professor Landon Sadler is a full-time Lecturer in English and Associate faculty member of the Women’s and Gender Studies department at the Texas A&M University, College Station, in the College of Arts and Sciences. Following implementation of the Censorship Policy, Professor Sadler’s cross-listed English and Women’s and Gender Studies 333 course LGBTQ Literatures was canceled without explanation for Fall 2026, despite Professor Sadler’s request for an exemption. In addition, Professor Sadler was required to remove Academy Award winning Best Picture Moonlight from his Writing About Literature English 203 syllabus, again without explanation.” “Plaintiff Professor Aaron George is a tenured Assistant Professor of History at Tarleton State University, which is within the Texas A&M University System. Following implementation of the Censorship Policy, Professor George’s course, History of Sexuality in America, was removed from the course catalogue. He is also no longer permitted to teach Contemporary American History, which he had been planning to teach in the Fall 2026 semester. In two of his other classes, Professor George has been forced to censor viewpoints that are disfavored by the Board of Regents. For example, Professor George teaches History of the United States Since 1877 (HIST 1302), a core course that covers the Fourteenth Amendment. Following a student complaint on the first day of the Spring 2026 semester, he received an email informing him that he had violated the Censorship Policy, with no explanation as to how, but directing him “to make the necessary changes to the course immediately” or risk having his course canceled. Guessing as to what was deemed problematic on his syllabus, Professor George removed a reference to “LGBT Americans” from his description of the groups affected by the Fourteenth Amendment, which then prompted approval of his class.” Plantiffs seek to: Declare the Censorship Policy unconstitutional on its face and as applied to Plaintiffs because it restricts Plaintiffs’ speech in violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; Declare the Censorship Policy unconstitutional on its face and as applied to Plaintiffs because it is void for vagueness in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution; Issue a preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting Defendants from implementing or enforcing the Censorship Policy or substantially similar policies or practices; Issue a preliminary and permanent injunction re-instating classes canceled or demoted from status as “Core” classes pursuant to the Censorship Policy; Issue a preliminary and permanent injunction rescinding directives prohibiting inclusion of specific readings or other materials as part of courses pursuant to the Censorship Policy; Issue a preliminary and permanent injunction rescinding directives prohibiting teaching or discussion of subject matter pursuant to the Censorship Policy; Award Plaintiffs’ legal costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and other litigation expenses under 42 U.S.C. § 1988; and Grant any additional relief this Court deems just and proper.

Man Arrested For The Sexual Assault of a Child Under The Age of 14

A Milam County man is out of jail after being arrested for sexual assault of a child. 35-year-old Ebodio Manuel Duarte, of Buckholts, was arrested in Bell County on July 29th. He was processed through the Milam County Jail today and posted $100,000 bond. He is charged with Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Under the Age of 14.

Navasota ISD Hosts Public Session to Discuss Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election (VATRE)

Navasota ISD will be hosting a public “Rattle Session” tonight to discuss an item they’d like to see on the November ballot. The school board wants to order a Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) and needs to file for that by August 17th. The district says it needs voter approval, but they’re not asking for tax increase. It’s also not a bond election. According to Navasota ISD, it is a Zero Tax Rate Increase proposition. According to a presentation at the May 18, 2026 school board meeting, the approval would allow for an increase in maintenance and operations in future years without increasing tax burden. Your chance to learn more happens tonight at 6:00pm at the Navasota High School Library.