In a recent exposé1 by The Texas Horn, an independent student publication at The University of Texas at Austin, troubling details have emerged regarding Dr. Richard Reddick, the Senior Vice Provost for Curriculum and Enrollment and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, who was recently appointed2 last month to oversee the development of the university’s revamped core curriculum as part of a task force.
Dr. Reddick’s history of inflammatory statements and advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives raises serious concerns about the university’s compliance with Texas state law and the responsible use of public resources. If Dr. Reddick’s past actions and statements are any indicator, he may try to work around the DEI Ban passed in 2023.
Dr. Reddick, a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy with a background in equity, has a pattern of divisive rhetoric that aligns closely with prohibited DEI practices. For instance, in social media posts highlighted by The Texas Horn, Dr. Reddick labeled President Donald Trump as a “KKK endorsee,” “racist,” “sexist,” and “white supremacist,” while decrying “white privilege and supremacy.”
He has also criticized efforts to dismantle DEI programs, describing them as “anti-democratic” and drawing parallels to totalitarianism in podcast appearances. Furthermore, Dr. Reddick has endorsed concepts such as land acknowledgments, identity wheels for categorizing oppression, and segregated dormitory floors for students of color—practices that emphasize racial division over unity.
These views and activities stand in direct conflict with Senate Bill 17 (SB 17), enacted by the Texas Legislature in 2023 to prohibit DEI initiatives at public institutions of higher education. Under SB 17, universities are barred from maintaining DEI offices, conducting DEI-related training, or engaging in activities that provide preferential treatment based on race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The law explicitly requires the elimination of such programs to ensure institutional neutrality and prevent the use of state funds for ideological indoctrination. UT Austin has publicly stated its commitment to compliance, including the closure of DEI offices and the reassignment or termination of related staff. Yet, placing an individual with Dr. Reddick’s DEI-aligned background in a position of authority over curriculum development suggests a circumvention of the statute’s intent. This arrangement allows prohibited influences to persist under alternative titles, undermining the law’s purpose and exposing the university to potential funding penalties as outlined in the legislation.
Beyond potential legal non-compliance, Dr. Reddick’s role represents an egregious misuse of taxpayer dollars. Public universities in Texas, including UT Austin, receive substantial funding from state appropriations. These resources are intended to support educational excellence, research, and student success, not to subsidize administrators who promote polarizing ideologies. By retaining and elevating figures like Dr. Reddick, whose advocacy extends to segregation and critiques of anti-DEI reforms, the university diverts funds from core academic priorities toward agendas that foster division rather than fiscal or educational efficiency. This further erodes public trust in higher education and burdens Texas taxpayers, who already face rising taxes and economic pressures.
Government spending must prioritize essential services, and funding such positions exemplifies the kind of wasteful expenditure that Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has long opposed. It is time for decisive action to restore neutrality, efficiency, and compliance in our public higher education system.
- https://thetexashorn.com/2025/11/18/ut-dean-compared-trump-to-adolf-hitler-now-he-is-overseeing-curriculum/
- https://texasscorecard.com/state/ut-austin-placed-dei-advocate-on-core-curriculum-review-committee/
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