Canceled. Tarrant County College said this Hispanic Heritage Month event might violate law
Tarrant County College canceled a Hispanic Heritage month event due to fears it would violate a state law that bans diversity programs at public colleges and universities. The move has drawn criticism and created confusion about the future of other heritage celebrations.
The Abranzando al Exito is an annual event to celebrate and inspire Latino students at Tarrant County College during Hispanic Heritage month. It was scheduled for Oct. 4 but was canceled days before the event because school officials say it may be in violation of a state law referred to as SB-17, short for Texas Senate Bill 17.
Thirty-seven percent of Tarrant County College’s students identify as Hispanic, according to the college’s enrollment data.
The law, which passed last year and was effective Jan. 1 of this year, states that institutions of higher education cannot: “require as a condition of enrolling at the institution or performing any institution function any person to participate in diversity, equity, and inclusion training.” This would include “a training, program, or activity designed or implemented in reference to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.”
There are several exceptions, such as “an activity of a student organization registered with or recognized by an institution of higher education” and “guest speakers or performers on short-term engagements,” the law says.
In a statement from Tarrant County College’s general counsel to the Star Telegram, the college said the statute “limits the extent to which College employees can be involved in the planning and execution of such events.”
The Abranzando al Exito event was planned by a committee of faculty and staff.
The college has not responded to questions from the Star-Telegram about the difference between the Abranzando al Exito event and its 2024 Black History month events, such as “Celebrating Strides: African Americans and the Arts: The Story Behind the Creativity” and “African American Read-In—Rekindling the Love: Conversations About the Black Arts,” which both were planned by a committee of faculty and staff.
“In the case of the Abranzando al Exito event, it was determined by College administrators that aspects of the event, such as funding and employee involvement, may have been in violation of SB-17,” the college’s emailed statement said.
In the statement, Tarrant County College says Chancellor Elva LeBlanc and staff have met with community partners to explain the law and their decision. The statement says the college will work to evaluate “future programs far enough in advance to ensure that planned programs comply with SB-17.”
Richard Gonzales is a local historian and was one of the scheduled guest speakers for Abranzando al Exito.
He attended a Tarrant County College board meeting on Oct. 17, where he noted that other colleges, such as Dallas College, the University of Texas at Arlington, and the University of North Texas, are holding Hispanic Heritage month events. He told the board to find better ways to celebrate heritage events that will not violate SB-17, as other institutions have done.
“Please be careful not to violate the First Amendment rights in your efforts to be so careful not to land on a landmine of SB-17,” Gonzales said. “Partner with the community to ensure that all students are included and their heritages are celebrated. Please act quickly to resolve this issue, our community is waiting.”
Rose Herrera is a part of the Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Committee of Tarrant County. When she learned about the cancellation of Abranzando al Exito, it reminded her of when Tarrant County Commissioners considered replacing Cesar Chavez Day with Veterans Day on the county’s holiday calendar. The item was removed from a commissioners court agenda in August.
Herrera says she doesn’t understand why the Hispanic community is not able to celebrate its culture. She questioned whether this will affect every other cultural celebration.
“What is the message you’re sending by doing all this?,” Herrera said. “What’s the message you’re sending to the students that your culture is not worthy of being celebrated?”
