Texas Professor Suspended For Criticizing GOP Lt Gov

July 25, 2023 Education, Republicans

The Texas Tribune reports:

Joy Alonzo, a respected opioid expert, was in a panic. The Texas A&M University professor had just returned home from giving a routine lecture on the opioid crisis at the University of Texas Medical Branch when she learned a student had accused her of disparaging Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick [photo] during the talk. In the few hours it took to drive from Galveston, the complaint had made its way to her supervisors, and Alonzo’s job was suddenly at risk.

Alonzo was right to be afraid. Not only were her supervisors involved, but so was Chancellor John Sharp, a former state comptroller who now holds the highest-ranking position in the Texas A&M University System. Less than two hours after the lecture ended, Patrick’s chief of staff had sent Sharp a link to Alonzo’s professional bio. Shortly after, Sharp sent a text directly to the lieutenant governor: “Joy Alonzo has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation re firing her. shud [sic] be finished by end of week.”

Read the full article.

The student who made the complaint is the daughter of GOP state Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, who was endorsed by Patrick in the last election. Earlier this year, Buckingham attended the wedding of Chancellor Sharp.

Fearing retaliation, three other students who were at the lecture won’t allow their names to be published, but say that Alonzo mentioned Patrick’s opposition to policies that would mitigate opioid-related deaths.

Per the linked report, Alonzo has brought millions in federal research dollars to the university and was last year named its researcher of the year.



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