The University of Texas at Arlington
Office of Public Affairs

Official Statements — 4 December 2007

This is in response to concerns about comments attributed to Dr. Jose Angel Gutierrez, a professor of Political Science at The University of Texas at Arlington.  As far as we can determine, the statements Professor Gutierrez made were during a news conference 37 years ago on April 10, 1969.  His statements were reported in a newspaper story by the San Antonio Evening News.

Outside of the classroom and as a private citizen, Professor Gutierrez expresses his opinions on a variety of political and social policy issues including immigration and has done so for many years prior to joining the faculty of UT Arlington in the fall of 1992.  As is true of all faculty members, he is entitled, as a citizen, to participate in public discussion on matters of public interest.  His personal political opinions do not represent the views of The University of Texas at Arlington or The University of Texas System.

This is in accord with the rules of The University of Texas System Board of Regents which provide:  “Faculty members are citizens, members of learned professions, and officers of an educational institution supported by the State of Texas.  When the faculty member speaks or writes as a citizen, he or she should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but should make it plain that the faculty member is not an institutional spokesperson.”

UT Arlington conducts an annual performance evaluation of all faculty and evaluates every course.  Those evaluations are reviewed by university officials.  Professor Gutierrez is in compliance with both of these policies.

Whether we agree or disagree with Professor Gutierrez, his right to express his political opinions is a fundamental right protected by the U.S. Constitution.  That same right of free speech protects all of us from censorship, persecution or retribution.