SAN MARCOS, Texas — The president of Texas State University has issued a response to a on-campus demonstration held by men not affiliated with the university on Wednesday.
In a letter posted Thursday, President Kelly Damphousse said shortly after noon on Wednesday, two men came onto the Texas State campus "carrying signs that expressed homophobic and misogynistic messages."
Damphousse said similar events have occurred across Texas this week and that, over the course of his 30 years in higher education, he has observed similar "unsettling" incidents on every campus where he has served.
"I am sure that it was disturbing for our students, their friends and family, our employees, and our alumni who were in the Quad at the time, or who saw the pictures and videos after the fact," Damphousse wrote.
Damphousse said that as a public university, Texas State is required by law to make public outdoor campus spaces open to what are known as "expressive activities," no matter what a group's messaging might be. Groups are not required to seek permission or give prior notice, and Texas State can't restrict lawful access to the campus, nor limit what people say verbally or in writing as long as it falls within the legal bounds of the First Amendment.
Damphousse said Texas State is continuing to gather information about Wednesday's incident, but he knows that when the university's "expressive activity team" learned about the demonstration, they went to The Stallions area of campus, where they were joined by University Police Department officers. They then monitored the men, "whose disturbing comments eventually drew a crowd of students and employees."
About an hour after the incident began, Damphousse said the demonstrators left the campus. While no arrests were made, the president said Texas State is "exploring potential legal responses as we learn more."
Damphousse wrote that the men's behavior "runs so contrary to the values we hold" and said while the university is legally committed to protecting free speech on campus, he condemns "the hateful words these two men wrote and spoke," saying, "That kind of hate is not welcome here."
Damphousse also noted that he knows the incident was "particularly disturbing" because it happened the day after an emotionally charged election.
"Even though the timing may not have been intentional, it may have seemed like these events were related," Damphousse wrote. "It is my hope that we will strive to focus on the things that unite us, treat each other with respect, and support each other as we learn, serve, inspire, and discover."
Community response to the demonstration
Images and video posted to social media show that the men's demonstration sparked a counter-protest.
Jenny Lawson, an author and the owner of Nowhere Bookshop in San Antonio, shared photos that her child – a Texas State student – sent her. Lawson wrote that students surrounded the two men, yelling over them, making signs to counter their messaging and more.
An Instagram user named Jerry Cantu also shared photos of counter-protesters spreading messages of love and acceptance, saying, "[America is about] to show more hate and bigotry cause it's been affirmed. But there is always hope!"
What Texas State is doing to keep the campus safe
In his letter, Damphousse noted that Texas State has developed procedures to keep demonstrators and observers safe and, after every situation like this, the university assesses how the events evolved to learn more about how to improve future responses.
Damphousse said observers also have a responsibility to keep themselves and the community safe, including monitoring their own behavior to ensure it's not violating laws or university policies.
"Throwing things at or assaulting demonstrators can result in you getting in trouble and may incite others to do the same, creating unsafe conditions for all – I don’t want that," Damphousse wrote. "I was encouraged to see members of our community bring out and hold signs with positive messages of respect."
He also said if students or faculty see something, they should say something, including reaching out to the University Police Department. Damphousse said Texas State has many avenues to report things, which are listed on the university's Report It website.
Finally, Damphousse noted that the university has mental health resources for anyone who may need them, which can be accessed on the Student Health Center webpage.
