UT Keeps ‘The Eyes of Texas’ for Now
The world around us is changing, and it's a long overdue change. Out with the symbolisms of racism in all its forms and fashions. Well, almost all anyways.
Several weeks ago I saw a headline reporting athletes at The University of Texas wanted the school to change some names of buildings on campus and it's alma mater song, 'The Eyes of Texas', because of it's connection to early 1900's minstrel shows which had actors using blackface.
On Monday, the school said it would look into those requests. However, the school will keep it's alma mater.
Interim president of the the University of Texas, Jay Hartzell, told NBCDFW, "Aspects of its origin, whether previously widely known or unknown, have created a rift in how the song is understood and celebrated, and that must be fixed. It is my belief that we can effectively reclaim and redefine what this song stands for by first owning and acknowledging its history in a way that is open and transparent."
UT will make some additional changes as the family of Joe Jamail, whom the field is named after, requested the field be
So as of now, 'The Eyes of Texas' will remain as the schools alma mater. Time will tell if it stays that way.