![]() ![]() "It's time for you to put the foot down and make it perfectly clear that the heritage of Texas will not be lost," wrote another donor who graduated in 1986. Several emails argued that Black students should switch schools or leave the state. They demanded students and players be required to participate in the university tradition. Rhetoric among donors and alumni intensified as pleas to keep the song over the summer turned into frustration that Hartzell needed to take a more aggressive approach. The committee announcement caused some alumni to again question whether the university was leaving the door open on the song. In early October, Hartzell announced Richard Reddick, a professor and associate dean in the College of Education, would chair a committee to review and document the history of "The Eyes of Texas," providing options for how the school can share and learn from its past - even as it had no intention of abandoning the song. "If something offends a certain demographic of people, and they've been outspoken about it, and they have every right to be offended by it, I think we should be listening to them," said Madison Morris, a freshman who is part of the Longhorn Athletic Agency within UT-Austin student government. Real damage is being done every day by the ongoing silence." Last night one texted me at 1:00 am, trying to find a way to revoke a 7-figure donation," President of the Longhorn Alumni Band Charitable Fund Board of Trustees Kent Kostka wrote to a group of administrators, including Hartzell. " are pulling planned gifts, canceling donations, walking away from causes and programs that have been their passion for years, even decades and turning away in disgust. While those who emailed represent a fraction of the more than 540,000 UT-Austin alumni, their threats had some university fundraisers sounding the alarms. ![]() This month, a university committee formed to document the song’s history is expected to release its highly anticipated report, likely reigniting the debate within the school community. "If it is not kept and fully embraced, I will not be donating any additional money to athletics or the university or attending any events." "The Eyes of Texas is non-negotiable," wrote another graduate who said they’ve had season tickets since 1990 and whose name was redacted by the university. Around 75 people in emails explicitly threatened to stop supporting the school financially, calling on the university to take a heavier hand with students and athletes they believed were disrespecting university tradition by protesting it. Hartzell had already publicly stated the university would keep the song, but hundreds of emails obtained through public records requests show that decision didn’t quell the furor among some of the most ardent supporters of "The Eyes."įrom June to late October, over 70% of the nearly 300 people who emailed Hartzell’s office about "The Eyes" demanded the school keep playing it. ![]() "Has everyone become oblivious of who supports athletics?" His name was redacted by UT-Austin, citing open records laws that protect certain donor identities. This could very easily be rescinded if things don’t drastically change around here," wrote one donor in October. "My wife and I have given an endowment in excess of $1 million to athletics. Illustration by Emily Albracht for the Texas Tribune ![]() Lee.Įmail sent to UT-Austin obtained in a public records request. (Ehlinger later said he was only lingering alone on the field to talk with coaches.) The song - played to the tune of "I’ve been working on the railroad" - was historically performed at campus minstrel shows, and the title is linked to a saying from Confederate Army Commander Robert E. The rest of the team, which typically stays to sing the song with fans at the end of games, had retreated from the field.įor many University of Texas at Austin students who had spent months protesting and petitioning the school to get rid of "The Eyes of Texas," it was gutting to see the student leader seemingly taking a stand. The bruising loss was quickly overshadowed when then-Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger stood alone on the field for the playing of the university’s alma mater song, "The Eyes of Texas," a postgame tradition. The Texas Longhorns had just lost to rival Oklahoma for the third time in a row - this time after quadruple overtime. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. ![]()
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