Texas Republicans are redefining higher ed. It’s creating confusion about free speech on campuses.

The George Washington statue on the University of Texas at Austin’s South Mall looks out at the Texas Capitol on Sept. 19, 2025. Recent controversies at Texas public universities have accelerated a Republican-led overhaul of higher education. Many students and faculty say the changes are limiting free speech on campuses; others say they are turning them into spaces where they can speak more freely.

Some students and professors say recent changes and scandals chill speech at universities. Others argue that conservative opinions can now be shared more freely.

The Texas Tribune