Texas A&M University has found itself at the center of a heated national debate after the firing of English lecturer Melissa McCoul over her classroom instruction on gender identity. The controversy, which erupted following the release of a hidden-camera video showing a student confronting McCoul about her curriculum, has sparked questions about academic freedom, political interference, and the future of higher education in Texas.
The incident unfolded in early September 2025, when a video shared by Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) went viral. The footage, reportedly taken during a children’s literature course, shows a student objecting to McCoul’s inclusion of gender identity topics, referencing an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump. That order, issued in January, defines gender strictly as male and female and prohibits the use of federal funds to promote what it calls “gender ideology.” According to The Dallas Express and Courier Texas, the student told McCoul, “I’m not entirely sure this is legal to be teaching.” McCoul responded, “What we are doing is not illegal,” and explained that if the student was uncomfortable, she was free to leave or file a complaint.
University President Mark A. Welsh III, who announced McCoul’s removal on September 9, cited “misleading course descriptions” and a failure to align with “reasonable expectations of standard curriculum.” In a statement shared by Campus Reform and other outlets, Welsh asserted, “If we allow different course content to be taught from what is advertised, we let our students down. When it comes to our academic offerings, we must keep our word to our students and to the state of Texas.” Welsh also removed the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Mark Zoran, and the head of the English department, Emily Johansen, from their administrative positions, saying they had approved content inconsistent with the published course description.
The university’s actions were met with swift praise from Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who had publicly called for McCoul’s firing and later celebrated the decision on social media. The Texas A&M System Board of Regents followed up by requesting a comprehensive audit of all courses to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.
Yet, not everyone saw the move as a victory for academic integrity. Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, condemned the terminations, stating, “Neither Senate Bill 37 nor President Trump’s executive orders supersede the United States Constitution. Nothing in law strips faculty of their right to due process or free speech.” Capo further warned, “Lawmakers and the governor himself using their considerable platforms to publicly call for the removal of a faculty member, a dean, a department chair and the president of the university based on viral video clips is an abuse of their power and a level of histrionics that ought to concern us all, regardless of where we fall on the political spectrum. This is not normal, and we cannot let this race to a moral panic become the new normal.”
The controversy is unfolding against the backdrop of significant legislative changes in Texas. On September 1, Senate Bill 37 took effect, granting the state government unprecedented power over the core curriculum at public colleges and universities. The bill establishes a board of regents, appointed by the governor, to oversee operations and curriculum. Committees now have the authority to reject any course deemed “ideologically charged” or misaligned with workforce demands. According to Courier Texas, this is the first law of its kind in the nation, and its implementation has already had far-reaching impacts on academic programs and faculty autonomy.
Texas A&M, in particular, has been at the forefront of these changes. The university recently closed its LGBTQ+ Pride Center following a state bill banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. It also suspended all transition-related medical care for transgender students, citing strain on its student health services. Earlier this year, a judge blocked a university ban on drag shows, ruling that the ban likely violated the First Amendment. The Board of Regents had argued that such events could breach Trump’s executive order on gender ideology.
Amid these policy shifts, other Texas universities have been wrestling with similar issues. At the University of Texas at Austin, for example, the Communication Studies department features a professor who identifies as nonbinary and uses multiple pronouns, including they/he/she/Nik. The University of North Texas encourages students and faculty to introduce themselves with their pronouns, promoting what it calls an inclusive environment. Meanwhile, UT Dallas recently rescinded a policy requiring the use of affirmed names and pronouns, though students may still update their pronouns in online systems.
Proponents of the new laws and policies argue that taxpayer-funded institutions should not promote what they see as controversial or unscientific ideologies. Critics, however, see the developments as part of a broader campaign to restrict academic freedom and marginalize LGBTQ+ voices in education. The debate has even extended to the disposal of books: a Texas A&M student recently discovered hundreds of LGBTQ-themed titles at the university’s surplus property office, prompting accusations of censorship. The university has not commented on the matter, but a manager at the warehouse insisted the books were not exclusively LGBTQ-related and were not intended for recirculation.
McCoul, for her part, has denied any wrongdoing. Through her attorney, Amanda Reichek, she maintains that her course content was “entirely consistent with the catalog and course description, and she was never instructed to change her course content in any way, shape, or form.” Reichek added, “Dr. McCoul taught this course and others like it for many years, successfully and without challenge. Instead, Dr. McCoul was fired in derogation of her constitutional rights and the academic freedom that was once the hallmark of higher education in Texas.” McCoul has appealed her termination and is reportedly considering further legal action.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has announced it will investigate the incident, with assistant attorney general Harmeet K. Dhillon calling the situation “deeply concerning.” Meanwhile, state Rep. Harrison, who has a history of opposing DEI initiatives and LGBTQ+ equality, continues to press for even more aggressive action, urging the university to fire President Welsh as well.
The clash at Texas A&M has become a flashpoint in the national conversation about free speech, academic responsibility, and the role of government in higher education. As universities across Texas and the country grapple with similar challenges, the outcome of McCoul’s case—and the broader debate it has ignited—may well shape the educational landscape for years to come.
For now, students and faculty at Texas A&M, and at public universities across the Lone Star State, are left to navigate an environment where the boundaries of academic freedom and state authority are being redrawn in real time.
