Students advocate for new campus speaker policies after podcaster makes racist, sexist comments on campus

Students advocate for new campus speaker policies after podcaster makes racist, sexist comments on campus Categories: Main story News Student Government Students advocate for new campus speaker policies after podcaster makes racist, sexist comments on campus Catherine MacLeod and Tierney Withrow October 14, 2026 Isaiah Rodriguez Sophmore Adhia Agostinho asks a question during the Student Government Assembly Meeting at the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center on Oct. 13, 2026. Dozens of students gathered in the Student Government Assembly room Tuesday evening to voice their concerns and suggest policy changes regarding the presence of a conservative podcaster on campus last week. Right-wing influencer Myron Gaines used multiple derogatory slurs in a debate outside Gregory Gym on the evening of Oct. 7. Gaines sat behind a banner that read “The Cornell 7 are innocent. Prove me wrong” and his book “Why Women Deserve Less” while debating students. The debate was his fourth stop in his “Toxic Masculinity” tour with Uncensored America, an organization that believes “universities should be spaces where all ideas—especially those that are unpopular or debated—can be expressed and critically examined without censorship,” according to the UT chapter’s HornsLink. Advertisement Gaines was given a warning for slur usage by campus officials, according to a video posted by Uncensored America. “The school, which is federally funded, by the way, doesn’t like me saying certain slurs,” Gaines said. “But this is the United States of fucking America and we have a first amendment here, so I’m gonna continue to use whichever slur I fucking want to use in this discourse.” The event was shut down 45 minutes before its scheduled end time. A UTPD officer told a member of Uncensored America that they were trespassing and would go to jail if the group remained on campus, according to the video. The campus chapters of Students for a Democratic Society and Black Student Alliance posted statements criticizing how Gaines’ event impacted student safety. Uncensored America reposted the Black Student Alliance’s post with the text “Pound Sand” to its Instagram story. SG allocates time at their weekly public assemblies for an “open forum,” an opportunity for constituents to voice ideas and concerns to representatives. Six students spoke at the forum on Tuesday to condemn Gaines’ speech and present policy ideas before time ran out. Many of the speakers also criticized SG and University administration for allowing the event to happen and not issuing a statement afterward. “I’m disgusted by the lack of statements, the lack of outrage, the lack of press, the lack of defending of certain communities here at UT Austin,” government junior Jamie Barrett said. “The racist, xenophobic attacks that happened here (are) not okay.” Speakers argued that Gaines’ presence violated the University Catalog, specifically Sec. 13, which creates guidelines for speakers on campus. Approval for guest speakers on campus is only required for “Dedicated Areas,” which do not include Speedway or Gregory Gym. However, the catalog bars obscenity, harassment and discriminatory conduct from all speakers. “Free speech is not equivalent to hate speech,” government freshman Anisa Abdullah said. Students proposed multiple policy ideas to prevent events like this from happening again. Abdullah suggested an act to protect students that would limit certain speakers from being present on campus after 5:00 p.m. Psychology freshman Aaron Miller suggested that speakers who violate certain campus guidelines and are reported to the Dean of Students with signatures from students should not be allowed to speak. “Free speech is important, but so is accountability here at our institution,” Barrett said. The SG executive alliance thanked the audience for coming to share their concerns, and SG President Kiera Dixon called last week’s events “horrifying and disgusting.” Vice President Jaden Watt, who is president of UT’s chapter of the historically Black fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi, said the pair have spent the past week working on a solution to the issue. “It is about whether UT will protect free expression while recognizing the unequal burden that racial hostility places on its Black students,” said Kaitlin Boyce Johnson, an anthropology and African and African Diaspora Studies senior and president of the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta. “We deserve a university that takes our experiences seriously and demonstrates that our education, safety and belonging matters.” 0 Like This Story Share on Facebook Share on X Email this Story Print this Story More to Discover More in Main story Arch Manning’s inconsistencies leave Texas with more questions than answers College of Fine Arts adds 3 performing arts minors 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane’ unites audiences of all ages SIMS Foundation provides free mental health support at ACL Healing with Harmonies brings music, connection to Austin Dell Medical School partners with federal program to standardize clinical trials More in News UT physics professor wins quantum research grant Moody College of Communication adds option to fulfill language, communication, culture requirement Student-led turtle pond research published in scientific journal, begins new investigation First vice provost for arts discusses ‘power of art,’ new position Yani Ayala Valentin speaks on consolidation Kaitlyn Boyce Johnson speaks on consolidation More in Student Government New SG resolution supports South Asian students following politician’s racist posts First-years elect 2 representatives to SG assembly Students begin campaigns for Student Government first-year representative SG passes organization funding appropriations in special assembly SG approves budget, talks changes at semester’s first public assembly SG executive alliance outlines plans for semester in sit-down interview