Dr. Leonard Bright
@drleonardbright.bsky.social
Professor, Author, and Champion of Academic Freedom and Accountability. I speak only for myself. drleonardbright.com
Pinned
New Book Release. Available on 10/17/25. Pre-order available on Amazon . More information available at www.drleonardbright.com/new-book-rel...
Texas A&M sent this message to my students repeating a false claims that I declined to clarify the fact that my class address "race, gender, and sexuality." Here were my exact words:
"The topics of race, gender, and sexuality will be addressed throughout the course..."
Why involve the students?
"The topics of race, gender, and sexuality will be addressed throughout the course..."
Why involve the students?
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Texas A&M sent this message to my students repeating a false claims that I declined to clarify the fact that my class address "race, gender, and sexuality." Here were my exact words:
"The topics of race, gender, and sexuality will be addressed throughout the course..."
Why involve the students?
"The topics of race, gender, and sexuality will be addressed throughout the course..."
Why involve the students?
Texas A&M decided to publicly cancel my Ethics class, and share a false statement that I declined to provide information, which made it impossible for [them ] to request an exemption. See for yourself, if this statement is true.
They are getting creative!
They are getting creative!
ETHICS IS NOW CANCELED AT TEXAS A&M
Statement from Dr. Leonard Bright....
Statement from Dr. Leonard Bright....
January 14, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Texas A&M decided to publicly cancel my Ethics class, and share a false statement that I declined to provide information, which made it impossible for [them ] to request an exemption. See for yourself, if this statement is true.
They are getting creative!
They are getting creative!
Here is the message TAMU sent to my entire college. My colleagues and students knew about the decision to cancel my Ethics class before me. This disrespect my Dean showed towards me was unwarranted.
The message was clear: Be very afraid. No one can save you from being censored at Texas A&M.
The message was clear: Be very afraid. No one can save you from being censored at Texas A&M.
January 14, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Here is the message TAMU sent to my entire college. My colleagues and students knew about the decision to cancel my Ethics class before me. This disrespect my Dean showed towards me was unwarranted.
The message was clear: Be very afraid. No one can save you from being censored at Texas A&M.
The message was clear: Be very afraid. No one can save you from being censored at Texas A&M.
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
"Censoring Plato is an academic absurdity and a textbook violation of academic freedom. A university that censors Plato—as well as other significant texts—abandons its obligation to truth, free inquiry, and the public trust."
— AAUP President Todd Wolfson
— AAUP President Todd Wolfson
AAUP President Todd Wolfson: An Institution That Censors Plato is Not a Serious Institution of Higher Learning
Censoring Plato is an academic absurdity and a textbook violation of academic freedom. Barring a foundational philosopher who is a cornerstone of Western thought because his work touches on race or ge...
www.aaup.org
January 12, 2026 at 2:40 PM
"Censoring Plato is an academic absurdity and a textbook violation of academic freedom. A university that censors Plato—as well as other significant texts—abandons its obligation to truth, free inquiry, and the public trust."
— AAUP President Todd Wolfson
— AAUP President Todd Wolfson
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
Does *anyone* know what's going on...?
Students scramble as A&M reviews race, gender courses 1 week before class
With the review ongoing, Texas A&M University officials declined to say how many courses have been canceled, moved out of the core curriculum or changed to omit topics of race and gender.
www.houstonchronicle.com
January 11, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Does *anyone* know what's going on...?
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
January 6, 2026 at 8:15 PM
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
"The university’s Committee on Academic Freedom, Responsibility and Tenure voted 8-0 that Texas A&M 'had no justification for dismissing' McCoul and 'failed to follow required procedures at multiple stages,' according to a Sunday statement from the Texas A&M chapter of the AAUP."
Texas A&M committee sides with professor fired amid conservative furor
The interim leader of the public university will review the nonbinding report and make "a decision in the coming days or weeks," a spokesperson said.
www.highereddive.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:19 PM
"The university’s Committee on Academic Freedom, Responsibility and Tenure voted 8-0 that Texas A&M 'had no justification for dismissing' McCoul and 'failed to follow required procedures at multiple stages,' according to a Sunday statement from the Texas A&M chapter of the AAUP."
RIG 'EM: #Newbook on the Tenure and Promotion Process
YouTube video by The Bright Professor
youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:44 AM
The Fight for Truth in Academia: What's at Stake
youtu.be/YnjX2gzi3ew
youtu.be/YnjX2gzi3ew
The Fight for Truth in Academia: What's at Stake
YouTube video by The Bright Professor
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 3:44 AM
The Fight for Truth in Academia: What's at Stake
youtu.be/YnjX2gzi3ew
youtu.be/YnjX2gzi3ew
Stories of resilience. Stories of determination. Stories of those who kept going even when academia pushed back. I faced that reality in my career. The version of academia I was promised wasn’t the one I lived. I decided to tell my story. You’re not alone. #RIGEM
October 30, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Stories of resilience. Stories of determination. Stories of those who kept going even when academia pushed back. I faced that reality in my career. The version of academia I was promised wasn’t the one I lived. I decided to tell my story. You’re not alone. #RIGEM
New Book Release. Available on 10/17/25. Pre-order available on Amazon . More information available at www.drleonardbright.com/new-book-rel...
October 13, 2025 at 1:33 PM
New Book Release. Available on 10/17/25. Pre-order available on Amazon . More information available at www.drleonardbright.com/new-book-rel...
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
📢 Our open letter reminds public higher ed leaders + administrators that their actions must follow the law, not political rhetoric. The First Amendment protects the teaching of controversial topics. Executive orders and legislation to the contrary cannot override this constitutional protection.
September 22, 2025 at 11:17 PM
📢 Our open letter reminds public higher ed leaders + administrators that their actions must follow the law, not political rhetoric. The First Amendment protects the teaching of controversial topics. Executive orders and legislation to the contrary cannot override this constitutional protection.
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
www.chronicle.com/article/part...
The moral of the story, as Dr. Bright of TAMU AAUP points out: Stick to your principles!
The moral of the story, as Dr. Bright of TAMU AAUP points out: Stick to your principles!
Partisan Fury Got Him a Presidency. And Then It Took Him Down.
Mark A. Welsh’s tenure at Texas A&M was defined by a political environment that ultimately proved impossible to navigate.
www.chronicle.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
www.chronicle.com/article/part...
The moral of the story, as Dr. Bright of TAMU AAUP points out: Stick to your principles!
The moral of the story, as Dr. Bright of TAMU AAUP points out: Stick to your principles!
I attended the demonstration for Academic Freedom organized by Texas A&M’s students. Well over 100 students, faculty, staff, and administrators took part. Our message was clear: “Defend academic freedom with every breath” Whoop! 🙌
September 23, 2025 at 3:57 AM
I attended the demonstration for Academic Freedom organized by Texas A&M’s students. Well over 100 students, faculty, staff, and administrators took part. Our message was clear: “Defend academic freedom with every breath” Whoop! 🙌
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/t...
More detailed, extremely troubling account of the debacle at Texas A&M
More detailed, extremely troubling account of the debacle at Texas A&M
How a secret recording of a gender identity lecture upended Texas A&M
Officials have struggled to detail the exact reasons for the A&M professor’s termination, citing a technical issue with her course description. Faculty say the move was politically motivated.
www.texastribune.org
September 19, 2025 at 11:46 PM
www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/t...
More detailed, extremely troubling account of the debacle at Texas A&M
More detailed, extremely troubling account of the debacle at Texas A&M
The fallout at Texas A&M painfully underscores the fact that many citizens do not understand the role of higher education. This lack of understanding has made them susceptible to misinformation, especially in a political environment that is actively working to keep it that way.
September 15, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The fallout at Texas A&M painfully underscores the fact that many citizens do not understand the role of higher education. This lack of understanding has made them susceptible to misinformation, especially in a political environment that is actively working to keep it that way.
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
Melissa McCoul's firing comes after disciplinary action against administrators.
Texas A&M professor fired over discussion of gender identity
Melissa McCoul's firing comes after disciplinary action against administrators.
bit.ly
September 12, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Melissa McCoul's firing comes after disciplinary action against administrators.
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
“When university presidents have little choice but to dismiss faculty members’ expertise and enforce ideological edicts, the space for free speech and open inquiry on our campuses is undeniably being suffocated.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/u...
Texas Professor Fired After Accusations of Teaching ‘Gender Ideology’
www.nytimes.com
September 13, 2025 at 3:07 AM
“When university presidents have little choice but to dismiss faculty members’ expertise and enforce ideological edicts, the space for free speech and open inquiry on our campuses is undeniably being suffocated.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/u...
This is a video of President Welsh responding in 2023 to a reporter's question about academic freedom. He promised to defend it with "every breath."
What happened between then and now? It shows how how quickly things can change if we (faculty) fail to continually defend our most important values.
What happened between then and now? It shows how how quickly things can change if we (faculty) fail to continually defend our most important values.
September 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
This is a video of President Welsh responding in 2023 to a reporter's question about academic freedom. He promised to defend it with "every breath."
What happened between then and now? It shows how how quickly things can change if we (faculty) fail to continually defend our most important values.
What happened between then and now? It shows how how quickly things can change if we (faculty) fail to continually defend our most important values.
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
The professor fired by Texas A&M University on Tuesday for allegedly not changing her course content to match its description, is disputing her cause for termination and exploring legal options, according to a statement her attorney.
Texas A&M professor fired after viral video disputes termination
An attorney for Melissa McCoul, seen in a video clashing with a student over gender-identity content in her class, said the professor is weighing her legal options.
www.texastribune.org
September 11, 2025 at 1:16 AM
The professor fired by Texas A&M University on Tuesday for allegedly not changing her course content to match its description, is disputing her cause for termination and exploring legal options, according to a statement her attorney.
Reposted by Dr. Leonard Bright
🗣️📢PRESS RELEASE: “Texas A&M University Caves to Political Pressure, Violating Faculty Rights to Academic Freedom and Due Process.” 🧵
1/5
1/5
September 10, 2025 at 8:04 PM
🗣️📢PRESS RELEASE: “Texas A&M University Caves to Political Pressure, Violating Faculty Rights to Academic Freedom and Due Process.” 🧵
1/5
1/5
Here is Texas A&M's official statement on Academic Freedom as written in its own policies (12.01.99.M1 section 2.1). This shows just how inconsistent Hagar's and Welsh's actions were to the the very policies they promised to uphold.
September 10, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Here is Texas A&M's official statement on Academic Freedom as written in its own policies (12.01.99.M1 section 2.1). This shows just how inconsistent Hagar's and Welsh's actions were to the the very policies they promised to uphold.
The situation at Texas A&M this week is a clear indication of the importance that higher education institutions be ran by expert educators. Politicians inside and out Texas A&M appear to be running the show.
September 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The situation at Texas A&M this week is a clear indication of the importance that higher education institutions be ran by expert educators. Politicians inside and out Texas A&M appear to be running the show.
Let’s be honest—SB 37 doesn’t solve real problems; it creates them. It strips professors and experts of protection from political pressure, putting truth in the classroom at risk. Texans deserve an education system grounded in knowledge, not political fear.
May 13, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Let’s be honest—SB 37 doesn’t solve real problems; it creates them. It strips professors and experts of protection from political pressure, putting truth in the classroom at risk. Texans deserve an education system grounded in knowledge, not political fear.