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The NAACP’s Texas chapter and five
anonymous University of Texas students have filed a federal civil
rights complaint with the U.S. Education Department’s Office of Civil
Rights saying the school’s continued use of “The Eyes of Texas” as its alma mater song creates a “hostile environment” for Black
students.
Kate McGee of the Texas Tribune
reported Tuesday the complaint, which was filed Friday, states the
song carries a “racially offensive origin, context and meaning.”
The filing argues Texas has violated
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by failing to address racial harassment complaints related to the song and are failing to
provide the 14th Amendment right of equal protection by having those
who disagree with the song perform in a separate marching band, per
McGee.
“As Black students, we kind of feel
as if it’s not like our voices are heard,” Al-Nasser Lawal, who
attends UT and leads the school’s NAACP chapter, said. “The main
objective of the administration and the campus is just to appease
their wealthy donors so that they can continue to get that funding,
and that they don’t really have our best interests at heart.”
The complaint also alleges students
who’ve publicly opposed the song have attracted “threatening
statements” from alumni, per Megan Menchaca of the Austin
American-Statesman.
“University students, alumni, staff
and faculty who oppose the use of this racially offensive song have
been disregarded and subjected to racial hostility … because the
hatemongers have been empowered on UT campus and the dignity and
respect for those who have different beliefs has been undermined,” the complaint states.
The U.S. Education Department’s Office
of Civil Rights has yet to say whether it will launch an
investigation into the allegations.
In March, the school released a 58-page
report following a review of the origins of “The Eyes of Texas.”
Key findings from the university’s investigation
include finding no direct link between the song and Confederate
general Robert E. Lee along with “no evidence” the alma mater’s lyrics
were “intended to show nostalgia for slavery,” per UT News.
The report said “The Eyes of Texas” was
likely sung originally with use of blackface, calling that a “painful
reality of the song’s origin.”
“Although it was not written in
dialect and does not appear to have been composed as a minstrel song,
we are pained and uncomfortable with this aspect of its history. We
believe it is important to fully acknowledge and learn from the
university’s past,” the review said.
The school opted to keep the song as
its alma mater, however, and president Jay Hartzell released a statement to UT
News about the report:
“I commend the committee for its
outstanding work and willingness to explore a subject that has
aroused such strong passions across our community. The members’ work
offers a model for how society can talk across divides to tackle
difficult subjects. In particular, I am proud of the students and
student-athletes who used their voices to raise concerns last summer
and then stepped up to engage in this conversation and contribute to
the research. They exemplify our mission of researching, teaching,
and then changing the world.”
Texas’ band played “The Eyes of Texas” as
part of the longstanding tradition after Saturday’s 38-18 home win by the Longhorns’ football team over Louisiana.
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