Dr. Leonard Bright
@drleonardbright.bsky.social
Professor, Author, and Champion of Academic Freedom and Accountability. I speak only for myself. drleonardbright.com
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New Book Release. Available on 10/17/25. Pre-order available on Amazon . More information available at www.drleonardbright.com/new-book-rel...
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
"The university’s Committee on Academic Freedom, Responsibility and Tenure voted 8-0 that Texas A&M 'had no justification for dismissing' McCoul and 'failed to follow required procedures at multiple stages,' according to a Sunday statement from the Texas A&M chapter of the AAUP."
Texas A&M committee sides with professor fired amid conservative furor
The interim leader of the public university will review the nonbinding report and make "a decision in the coming days or weeks," a spokesperson said.
www.highereddive.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:19 PM
"The university’s Committee on Academic Freedom, Responsibility and Tenure voted 8-0 that Texas A&M 'had no justification for dismissing' McCoul and 'failed to follow required procedures at multiple stages,' according to a Sunday statement from the Texas A&M chapter of the AAUP."
RIG 'EM: #Newbook on the Tenure and Promotion Process
YouTube video by The Bright Professor
youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:44 AM
The Fight for Truth in Academia: What's at Stake
youtu.be/YnjX2gzi3ew
youtu.be/YnjX2gzi3ew
The Fight for Truth in Academia: What's at Stake
YouTube video by The Bright Professor
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 3:44 AM
The Fight for Truth in Academia: What's at Stake
youtu.be/YnjX2gzi3ew
youtu.be/YnjX2gzi3ew
Stories of resilience. Stories of determination. Stories of those who kept going even when academia pushed back. I faced that reality in my career. The version of academia I was promised wasn’t the one I lived. I decided to tell my story. You’re not alone. #RIGEM
October 30, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Stories of resilience. Stories of determination. Stories of those who kept going even when academia pushed back. I faced that reality in my career. The version of academia I was promised wasn’t the one I lived. I decided to tell my story. You’re not alone. #RIGEM
New Book Release. Available on 10/17/25. Pre-order available on Amazon . More information available at www.drleonardbright.com/new-book-rel...
October 13, 2025 at 1:33 PM
New Book Release. Available on 10/17/25. Pre-order available on Amazon . More information available at www.drleonardbright.com/new-book-rel...
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
📢 Our open letter reminds public higher ed leaders + administrators that their actions must follow the law, not political rhetoric. The First Amendment protects the teaching of controversial topics. Executive orders and legislation to the contrary cannot override this constitutional protection.
September 22, 2025 at 11:17 PM
📢 Our open letter reminds public higher ed leaders + administrators that their actions must follow the law, not political rhetoric. The First Amendment protects the teaching of controversial topics. Executive orders and legislation to the contrary cannot override this constitutional protection.
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
www.chronicle.com/article/part...
The moral of the story, as Dr. Bright of TAMU AAUP points out: Stick to your principles!
The moral of the story, as Dr. Bright of TAMU AAUP points out: Stick to your principles!
Partisan Fury Got Him a Presidency. And Then It Took Him Down.
Mark A. Welsh’s tenure at Texas A&M was defined by a political environment that ultimately proved impossible to navigate.
www.chronicle.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
www.chronicle.com/article/part...
The moral of the story, as Dr. Bright of TAMU AAUP points out: Stick to your principles!
The moral of the story, as Dr. Bright of TAMU AAUP points out: Stick to your principles!
I attended the demonstration for Academic Freedom organized by Texas A&M’s students. Well over 100 students, faculty, staff, and administrators took part. Our message was clear: “Defend academic freedom with every breath” Whoop! 🙌
September 23, 2025 at 3:57 AM
I attended the demonstration for Academic Freedom organized by Texas A&M’s students. Well over 100 students, faculty, staff, and administrators took part. Our message was clear: “Defend academic freedom with every breath” Whoop! 🙌
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/t...
More detailed, extremely troubling account of the debacle at Texas A&M
More detailed, extremely troubling account of the debacle at Texas A&M
How a secret recording of a gender identity lecture upended Texas A&M
Officials have struggled to detail the exact reasons for the A&M professor’s termination, citing a technical issue with her course description. Faculty say the move was politically motivated.
www.texastribune.org
September 19, 2025 at 11:46 PM
www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/t...
More detailed, extremely troubling account of the debacle at Texas A&M
More detailed, extremely troubling account of the debacle at Texas A&M
The fallout at Texas A&M painfully underscores the fact that many citizens do not understand the role of higher education. This lack of understanding has made them susceptible to misinformation, especially in a political environment that is actively working to keep it that way.
September 15, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The fallout at Texas A&M painfully underscores the fact that many citizens do not understand the role of higher education. This lack of understanding has made them susceptible to misinformation, especially in a political environment that is actively working to keep it that way.
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
Melissa McCoul's firing comes after disciplinary action against administrators.
Texas A&M professor fired over discussion of gender identity
Melissa McCoul's firing comes after disciplinary action against administrators.
bit.ly
September 12, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Melissa McCoul's firing comes after disciplinary action against administrators.
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
“When university presidents have little choice but to dismiss faculty members’ expertise and enforce ideological edicts, the space for free speech and open inquiry on our campuses is undeniably being suffocated.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/u...
Texas Professor Fired After Accusations of Teaching ‘Gender Ideology’
www.nytimes.com
September 13, 2025 at 3:07 AM
“When university presidents have little choice but to dismiss faculty members’ expertise and enforce ideological edicts, the space for free speech and open inquiry on our campuses is undeniably being suffocated.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/u...
This is a video of President Welsh responding in 2023 to a reporter's question about academic freedom. He promised to defend it with "every breath."
What happened between then and now? It shows how how quickly things can change if we (faculty) fail to continually defend our most important values.
What happened between then and now? It shows how how quickly things can change if we (faculty) fail to continually defend our most important values.
September 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
This is a video of President Welsh responding in 2023 to a reporter's question about academic freedom. He promised to defend it with "every breath."
What happened between then and now? It shows how how quickly things can change if we (faculty) fail to continually defend our most important values.
What happened between then and now? It shows how how quickly things can change if we (faculty) fail to continually defend our most important values.
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
The professor fired by Texas A&M University on Tuesday for allegedly not changing her course content to match its description, is disputing her cause for termination and exploring legal options, according to a statement her attorney.
Texas A&M professor fired after viral video disputes termination
An attorney for Melissa McCoul, seen in a video clashing with a student over gender-identity content in her class, said the professor is weighing her legal options.
www.texastribune.org
September 11, 2025 at 1:16 AM
The professor fired by Texas A&M University on Tuesday for allegedly not changing her course content to match its description, is disputing her cause for termination and exploring legal options, according to a statement her attorney.
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
🗣️📢PRESS RELEASE: “Texas A&M University Caves to Political Pressure, Violating Faculty Rights to Academic Freedom and Due Process.” 🧵
1/5
1/5
September 10, 2025 at 8:04 PM
🗣️📢PRESS RELEASE: “Texas A&M University Caves to Political Pressure, Violating Faculty Rights to Academic Freedom and Due Process.” 🧵
1/5
1/5
Here is Texas A&M's official statement on Academic Freedom as written in its own policies (12.01.99.M1 section 2.1). This shows just how inconsistent Hagar's and Welsh's actions were to the the very policies they promised to uphold.
September 10, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Here is Texas A&M's official statement on Academic Freedom as written in its own policies (12.01.99.M1 section 2.1). This shows just how inconsistent Hagar's and Welsh's actions were to the the very policies they promised to uphold.
The situation at Texas A&M this week is a clear indication of the importance that higher education institutions be ran by expert educators. Politicians inside and out Texas A&M appear to be running the show.
September 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The situation at Texas A&M this week is a clear indication of the importance that higher education institutions be ran by expert educators. Politicians inside and out Texas A&M appear to be running the show.
Let’s be honest—SB 37 doesn’t solve real problems; it creates them. It strips professors and experts of protection from political pressure, putting truth in the classroom at risk. Texans deserve an education system grounded in knowledge, not political fear.
May 13, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Let’s be honest—SB 37 doesn’t solve real problems; it creates them. It strips professors and experts of protection from political pressure, putting truth in the classroom at risk. Texans deserve an education system grounded in knowledge, not political fear.
Texas Legislature’s SB 37 will turn Faculty Senates into Franken-Senates. A Frankenstein zombieish type committee without legitimacy, spirit, or the independent faculty voice. We must resist such disrespect.
May 6, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Texas Legislature’s SB 37 will turn Faculty Senates into Franken-Senates. A Frankenstein zombieish type committee without legitimacy, spirit, or the independent faculty voice. We must resist such disrespect.
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
Just Now: a federal judge ruled that our case (AAUP v. Rubio) seeking to block the Trump admin from carrying out large-scale arrests, detentions, & deportations of noncitizen students & faculty members who participate in pro-Palestinian protests can go forward.
@knightcolumbia.org
@knightcolumbia.org
Federal Court Says First Amendment Bars Government From Deporting Students and Faculty on Basis of Political Viewpoint, Says Challenge to Trump Policy Can Go Forward
knightcolumbia.org
April 29, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Just Now: a federal judge ruled that our case (AAUP v. Rubio) seeking to block the Trump admin from carrying out large-scale arrests, detentions, & deportations of noncitizen students & faculty members who participate in pro-Palestinian protests can go forward.
@knightcolumbia.org
@knightcolumbia.org
Kyle Zagon’s quote: “To imply that our people, our very name, that means to wrestle with God, need to be protected from dissenting views, is infantilizing and opportunistic.”
Wow, what a powerful statement!
Wow, what a powerful statement!
🚨Law school students + civil rights orgs warned senators on Wed that a measure that would require universities to report students accused of supporting terrorist activities to federal authorities could turn schools into immigration enforcement agencies.
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/16/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/16/t...
Texas law students warn that bill to quash “terrorist activity” in universities could trample free speech rights
The bill would require universities to report any visa-holding students who support terrorism, but its vague language could be dangerous, civil rights groups say.
www.texastribune.org
April 18, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Kyle Zagon’s quote: “To imply that our people, our very name, that means to wrestle with God, need to be protected from dissenting views, is infantilizing and opportunistic.”
Wow, what a powerful statement!
Wow, what a powerful statement!
I have a suspicion that SB 37 was never about improving higher ed, but to inflict retribution and punishment for a petty dispute between Texas LT Gov and a group a university faculty at one university.
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/t...
Texas Senate approves bill that could reshape how history and race are taught in state universities
An overhauled version of Senate Bill 37 would also allow anyone to file complaints that could lead schools to lose funds.
www.texastribune.org
April 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I have a suspicion that SB 37 was never about improving higher ed, but to inflict retribution and punishment for a petty dispute between Texas LT Gov and a group a university faculty at one university.
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/t...
At the TX Senate Education K-16 committee hearing the other day, one of the Senators made this comment about Jack Welch’s take on “shared leadership” in an attempt to diminish the importance of “shared governance” in faculty senates.
Jack Welch never said nor wrote this!
Jack Welch never said nor wrote this!
March 22, 2025 at 3:40 PM
At the TX Senate Education K-16 committee hearing the other day, one of the Senators made this comment about Jack Welch’s take on “shared leadership” in an attempt to diminish the importance of “shared governance” in faculty senates.
Jack Welch never said nor wrote this!
Jack Welch never said nor wrote this!
Here is my public testimony against SB 37, a bill that seeks to threaten faculty, silence our voices, and punish us for having the courage to speak truth to power.
March 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Here is my public testimony against SB 37, a bill that seeks to threaten faculty, silence our voices, and punish us for having the courage to speak truth to power.