A Texas State University history professor, Thomas Alter, has been dismissed after a video circulated online showing him speaking at a socialist conference. In the footage, Alter advocates for forming a “Revolutionary Socialist Party” and criticizes the U.S. government.
“Without organization, how can anyone expect to overthrow the most bloodthirsty, profit-driven, mad organization in the history of the world, that of the U.S. government?” Alter said during his remarks at an online Revolutionary Socialism Conference.
The university announced Alter’s termination on Wednesday, September 10. His faculty profile was removed from the school’s website by September 11.
TSU University System Chancellor Brian McCall released a statement saying that the institution “will not tolerate conduct by any employee intended to incite violence,” referencing “video recordings made public this week in which a … professor advocated for the overthrow of our government” as grounds for firing Alter.
University president Kelly Damphousse also commented via X: “after reviewing statements made … at a recent conference, I determined that (the professor) engaged in serious professional misconduct.”
Although neither McCall nor Damphousse named Alter directly in their public statements, he identified himself during the recorded Zoom meeting.
This incident follows another case involving academic freedom and speech in Texas higher education. Days earlier at Texas A&M University, Professor Melissa McCoul was fired after making comments about transgender people during class. The event drew attention from state lawmakers who called for her dismissal after video of her classroom remarks surfaced and led to confrontation with a student.
