Major College Program Under High Scrutiny by Donors, Fans Over Controversy on School’s Spirit Song

By  //  March 3, 2021

Controversy surrounds 'The Eyes of Texas' song

ABOVE VIDEO: Longhorn athletes call for school to eliminate ‘Eyes of Texas’ song, rename buildings to aid racial tension. (KXAN Video)

(FOX NEWS) – University of Texas president Jay Hartzell defended Longhorns players who were targeted for refusing to sing the school’s spirit song, “The Eyes of Texas,” after a report revealed earlier this week that boosters threatened to pull donations if the tradition wasn’t followed.

Hartzell said Tuesday that those who are threatening players don’t represent the community.

“People who target our students with hateful views do not represent the values of the Longhorn community,” Hartzell said in a statement. “A few extremist views in the sample of emails the Texas Tribune reported on do not speak for the 540,000 proud Longhorn alumni who actively support our students and university. Out of the many emails I received this fall, a very small number included comments that were truly abhorrent and hateful. I categorically reject them, and they bear no influence on any aspect of our decision-making.

“The fact that we don’t all agree on our school song doesn’t mean that we don’t all belong. Next week, the Eyes of Texas History Committee will release its report. Equipped with a common set of facts, we will then continue the conversation about our song. Having spoken to students and faculty on the committee, I truly believe we can be a model for how communities address complex problems and move forward together.”

Football defensive back Caden Sterns was one player who mentioned that he was threatened by alumni over the song.

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