From Texastribune · · 2m
UT Austin student's call for racial inclusion after Bo French remarks
UT Austin student demands president condemn Bo French's racist remarks about South Asian students.
In brief
UT Austin student demands president condemn Bo French's racist remarks about South Asian students. UT Austin student asked president to publicly call out Bo French for racism after he claimed South Asian students were a problem at the university. Originally reported by Texastribune.
Student's football excitement
An indian american student who lived in california their entire life felt excited about ut austin's football victory against ohio state.
Bo French's racist post
Bo french posted a photo of south asian students celebrating ut austin football victory and called their presence a problem.
University response delay
ut austin president jim davis responded nearly 35 hours later by affirming all students are longhorns without addressing french's remarks.
Student email demand
a student emailed president asking to call out bo french by name and say indian americans are americans too.
University's data clarification
university officials contacted media outlets to emphasize international students make up 4% of undergraduates not 10% of all students.
Student pressure for action
alumni students and parents sent over 22 emails to president demanding a response to french's remarks.
UT system board chair support
ut system board chair kevin eltife publicly supported ut students and reposted the message on x.
President's response
president jim davis reposted the board chair's support and said all students are exceptional longhorns without naming french.
Graduate's call for action
a 2020 graduate wrote that silence in the face of bigotry is complicity and a public condemnation is a moral obligation.
University policy context
ut system adopted a policy in august 2024 stating officials should not issue positions on issues of the day.
Professor support
three ut austin computer science professors wrote an email supporting all students regardless of ethnicity.
Student reaction
a first-year student appreciated faculty support but questioned why it wasn't university-wide.
Past university response
in 2017 president gregory fenves condemned flyers targeting chinese and asian students as completely unacceptable.
University neutrality policy
ut system board of regents has a neutrality policy that could have constrained university officials' response to french.
The one thing
UT Austin student asked president to publicly call out Bo French for racism after he claimed South Asian students were a problem at the university.
