Texas Southern University Cancels John Cornyn Commencement Address

HOUSTON, TX — Texas Southern University has cancelled Saturday’s commencement address by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, after an online petition spurred opposition and numerous calls to the university.

The petition was started on Change.org on May 5 by TSU student Rebecca Trevino, who said the university’s decision to schedule Cornyn as the keynote speaker for Saturday's commencement sends the wrong message to the student body. (Want to get daily updates about news and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

“The decision to host Mr. Cornyn, as a keynote speaker sends the message that the policies and views he has advocated and supported, including both discriminatory policies and politicians, are acceptable by the university and subsequently the student body,” Trevino said in her petition.

As of noon Friday, more than 850 people had signed Trevino’s petition opposing Cornyn’s commencement speech at the traditionally black university.

The change comes just days after U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was booed, heckled, and greeted with turned backs by graduating students during a commencement address at Bethune-Cookman University, a traditionally black university in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Meanwhile, Trevino told the Houston Chronicle that the goal wasn’t to suppress Cornyn himself, but to encourage the university to consider a speaker who was more consistent with the values of the student body.

"What I want people to realize is that this is our commencement," Trevino told the Chronicle. "This is something we've worked hard for and we want someone who represents us and our values."

The university issued the following statement: "Every consideration is made to ensure that our student's graduation day is a celebratory occasion and one they will remember positively for years to come. We asked Senator Cornyn to instead visit with our students again at a future date in order to keep the focus on graduates and their families."

Click this link to read the entire Chronicle story.

Image: Shutterstock

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