Overview
- On Jan. 6, philosophy chair Kristi Sweet told Martin Peterson he must remove race and gender modules, including Plato’s Symposium passages, from his core “Contemporary Moral Issues” class or accept reassignment.
- Peterson had submitted his Dec. 22 syllabus after the policy change, asserting he teaches argument analysis rather than advocacy and citing Supreme Court language on academic freedom and First Amendment protections.
- Texas A&M told the Texas Tribune the decision is not a ban on teaching Plato, noting other approved sections include Plato without modules on race and gender ideology.
- Peterson told the Tribune he will revise the syllabus by replacing the Plato readings with lectures on free speech and academic freedom, and he previously said he would consult legal counsel and is considering litigation.
- College emails show roughly 200 courses could be affected this semester, with an introductory sociology class on race and ethnicity canceled and a communications course renumbered to remove core credit, while limited exemptions may be sought before classes start Jan. 12.