Professors at the University of North Texas are expressing frustration after being informed they cannot host voter registration presentations in class. The university cited Texas Government Code as the reason for the policy, stating that using class time for political purposes is prohibited. While UNT insists the policy is not new, professors say they have regularly allowed nonprofit groups to discuss voter registration before.
Tracy Everbach, a journalism professor at UNT, expressed surprise at the restriction, noting that the groups invited to her class have always been nonpartisan. Similarly, Political Science professor Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha argues that hands-on voter registration activities are valuable teaching tools.
Political scientist Matthew Wilson from Southern Methodist University notes that there is a perception that voter registration efforts on college campuses would benefit Democrats. However, SMU allows nonpartisan groups to discuss voter registration in class, viewing it as a natural addition to the curriculum.
The news from UNT comes in the context of the University of Texas system recently approving a policy prohibiting schools from making political or social statements. Wilson suggests that universities face pressure from both left-leaning activists and a Republican-controlled government.
While the policy at UNT does not prevent voter registration drives on campus, professors and students are questioning the decision and advocating for the inclusion of voter registration discussions in the classroom.
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