A Long Day, A Powerful Stand: Testifying Against SB 37
I’m so proud of all of us who testified last night in opposition to Senate Bill 37. We signed up between 7:30 and 8:30 AM and didn’t finish until around 1:15 AM—that’s when this photo was taken. It was a marathon day, but a meaningful one.
SB 37 proposes a sweeping, bureaucratic overhaul that strips faculty of their rightful role in shaping curriculum. It transfers decision-making power away from those who know the content best—our educators—and places it in the hands of politically appointed regents. It aims to intimidate faculty from teaching about race, gender, religion, politics, or sexuality. It's a glorified gag order.
Under this bill, anyone can anonymously report a faculty member to an ombudsman, who would then escalate the case to the Legislature. Each public college and university in Texas would be required to establish an internal mechanism to manage these complaints—effectively creating a statewide surveillance system.
Someone likened this to Nazi Germany in their testimony. "Thought police," they said. Some are calling it the "Death Star," because it will so horribly harm higher education should it pass. Yes, our expertise, autonomy, and inclusive education are under attack, but we're pushing back as we speak.
For a helpful breakdown, I encourage you to read this excellent blog post by the Texas AAUP: SB 37: Undue Big-Government Intrusion into Public Higher Ed.
Someone at the hearing noted—and I agree—that the very filing of this bill, especially following last session’s SB 17, has already inflicted serious damage on Texas higher education. Faculty are leaving in droves, and their replacements are nowhere in sight, particularly with stories of failing search committees. We're having difficulty recruiting doctoral students right now at UT, especially when they have other, better options.
I tell prospective students that now is the time to come to UT. Join the movement! I've never seen so much youth engagement in the legislature in the 25 years of my own involvement. Many of us are literally harvesting the fruits of our labor. Gen Z is changing the world, but they need us. We're in this together.
Frankly, SB 37 would be laughable if it weren’t so dangerous. This bill is not just ridiculous; it’s harmful. And the fact that it’s even under consideration speaks volumes about where we are politically.
Still, in the face of this, I feel immense gratitude. I’m honored to be part of the beautiful, resilient community that has come together around this fight. Deep thanks to AAUP President Brian Evans and Texas AFT’s Amanda Garcia for their tireless leadership, and to all the students and faculty who traveled from across the state to testify.
SB 37 was left pending, which means the fight isn’t over.
My dear friends and colleagues, we can win this. We just can't let our guard down. 📢 Take action: Please reach out to your representatives and urge them to oppose this harmful bill. Here's a resource to help you do just that:
Then we'll party! 😊😊😊
In solidarity,
-Angela Valenzuela
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