SIAP: UT Tour Guide Staff Is Going On Strike

The Sundance Kid said:
Tour Guide Strike:

AUSTIN, Texas — An intensifying debate over the University of Texas' alma mater is developing into a new student strike.

“We care about this school so much that we are willing to put our voices out there,” said Kendall Walker.

UT student tour guides go on strike as 'The Eyes of Texas' controversy intensifies


Walker is among a group of UT Austin students who volunteer as Texas Tour Guides. These students are often among the first faces prospective longhorns see when they first visit the campus.


“We, Texas Tour Guides, are the very reason that people decide to attend this university, so we should have a say in what the welcome center looks like and what information is being represented about our university,” said tour guide student Jeremiah Baldwin.

Around 56 Texas Tour Guides started the strike on Saturday, refusing to show up to work and tour guide shifts until a plaque with the 'The Eyes of Texas' lyrics is removed from University's Admissions Welcome Center. The plaque is currently on display for any person who walks into the building to see and is featured on a wall of photos called ‘traditions and spirit.’

Tour guides say the plaque sends a concerning message to incoming students who may be learning or aware of the controversy surrounding ‘The Eyes of Texas’ historical connection to racism.

“It’s put us in an unfortunate position as tour guides. We feel a little bit thrown off. What to say, what can we say, what we shouldn’t say,” said Walker.

“The welcome center is a place where young high school kids are coming in to investigate,” said UT Senior and Texas Tour Guide Megan Eden. “Is it going to include me or not, is it going to look out for me and my wellbeing and safety?”

Baldwin added, “We don’t want that visible display in the welcome center because it hurts students who look like me. It hurts students who are from marginalized communities. And we ultimately want a welcome center that is inclusive and representative of all students at UT Austin.”

These students emphasized their concerns with the university and office of admissions leaders at the beginning of this year. Yet, months later, students claim the university has still not answered their concerns or attempted to take down the plaque.

“We had conversations that were arranged for us with people that were close to President Jay Hartzell and we had three of those scheduled over Zoom within one week, “said student Amelia Mercado. “They were very hostile and referred a lot to the Eyes of Texas report, but then also tried to tell us that the song was not created in a racist origin, and we just had a lot of disagreement about the history of the song.”

The ongoing strike comes just days after some UT faculty joined member of the UT student community with their own petition to get rid of ‘The Eyes of Texas’ as the school’s song. Last Thursday, History Professor Dr. Alberto Martínez led a virtual talk on the history of ‘The Eyes of Texas’ to UT's honorary service group, the Orange Jackets. Martinez told CBS Austin via email that at one point someone turned on their camera and “a large gun being loaded with bullets.”

UTPD tells CBS Austin they are investigating the incident. The university has not yet responded to requests for comment on the incident.

“It’s scary as hell, but its things like thatinstances like that where people feel like they can get on a Zoom call and spew hate like that that make us understand how important what we’re doing actually is,” said Eden.

Eden hopes that this strike serves as a catalyst for change when it comes to how and if ‘The Eyes of Texas’ should remain a part of the university’s future.

“Me? I don’t see an end to this strike until the plaque is down,” she said.

“This is not cancel culture, rather a refusal to glorify and champion a song that has an overtly racist history,” said Texas Tour Guide Jane Cloninger.

RELATED: UT faculty sign petition demanding "The Eyes of Texas" no longer be alma mater song

CBS Austin asked the university for comment on the strike and the student’s request to take the plaque down. A spokesperson for the university referred to a letter sent to students this week regarding the strike:

The letter, sent by Miguel Wasielewski, Executive Director of the Office of Admissions, says in part:

Thank you for your work and your continued commitment to The University of Texas. Also, thank you for sharing your input related to the Eyes of Texas panel on the Traditions wall in the Admissions Welcome Center (AWC). We hear the concerns expressed in your emails, in personal conversations with me and others on our team, and in the meetings held this past week.

The Texas Guides serve as the ambassadors of the institution, conveying a message of opportunity and excellence. The tours and presentations made through the AWC have been critical to helping students see themselves as Longhorns. We understand you may no longer desire to serve in this role based on your feelings about the University’s long-standing school song. If you no longer wish to serve as a Texas Tour Guide, please inform your supervisor so that your request can be processed.

The letter also indicates that going forward the admissions office will coordinate pathways to receive input from student employees and volunteers and provide updates.

We will also provide additional training for questions related to the Eyes of Texas to assist with a positive tour experience for our visitors.
Click to expand...
How exactly does a volunteer go on strike? Don't you just not volunteer?
 
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One bit of positive news - I’ve followed this ongoing story on Twitter very closely to see how people are reacting to it on there. I think it’s a decent barometer for what people are talking about in general. Every story about the song since the report was released has failed to really get any traction on Twitter. I don’t think the story is over by any means but it least it’s not still going viral like it was.
 
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Zorlac said:
That's just it.....They have their view and we have ours. We think they're arrogant and they think we're arrogant.


At the end of the day this isn't just going to go away like we all wish it would.
Click to expand...
Not sure its arrogant to view this through the lens of 117 years of a tradition that has absolutely nothing to do with racism. This is a focal point of critical race theory that attacks institutions and traditions for the sole intent to deconstruct and create cultural chaos. Those who pursue the deconstructing of the TEOT are participating in intentional cultural chaos in order to supplant traditions of one culture with a completely differing worldview. Why should anyone allow a segment of the campus to willfully apply a negative connotation to a tradition that, at the very, very worst, has completely redeemed itself in the 117 years since its potentially dubious beginnings. Their game is zero sum. Get rid of it or else. The opposing view asks that the intent of the tradition and how that intent has been expressed be considered....which has completely fallen on deaf ears. Those opposing the Eyes have an agenda that really has nothing to do with the song itself...the Eyes is just a means to an end.
 
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You are going to give a tour of a university that discriminated against others until they were forced not to by the courts. The buildings themselves that you are viewing are from that time and yet some plaque is the issue. You have to be a crappy guide if you were not prepared to discuss this issue. Hell, I would think these kind of people would welcome the opportunity to highlight the issue and give their slant.
 
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Dugg said:
You are going to give a tour of a university that discriminated against others until they were forced not to by the courts. The buildings themselves that you are viewing are from that time and yet some plaque is the issue. You have to be a crappy guide if you were not prepared to discuss this issue. Hell, I would think these kind of people would welcome the opportunity to highlight the issue and give their slant.
Click to expand...
And that gets right to the crux of this whole issue - if you take their argument to its logical conclusion then virtually everything at the university from pre-1970 should be done away with. I’ve literally had this argument with people on Twitter (anonymously) and they’ve reached that end. I don’t think they even realized that was where their line of thinking was heading from the outset either.
 
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The Sundance Kid said:
Tour Guide Strike:

AUSTIN, Texas — An intensifying debate over the University of Texas' alma mater is developing into a new student strike.

“We care about this school so much that we are willing to put our voices out there,” said Kendall Walker.

UT student tour guides go on strike as 'The Eyes of Texas' controversy intensifies


Walker is among a group of UT Austin students who volunteer as Texas Tour Guides. These students are often among the first faces prospective longhorns see when they first visit the campus.


“We, Texas Tour Guides, are the very reason that people decide to attend this university, so we should have a say in what the welcome center looks like and what information is being represented about our university,” said tour guide student Jeremiah Baldwin.

Around 56 Texas Tour Guides started the strike on Saturday, refusing to show up to work and tour guide shifts until a plaque with the 'The Eyes of Texas' lyrics is removed from University's Admissions Welcome Center. The plaque is currently on display for any person who walks into the building to see and is featured on a wall of photos called ‘traditions and spirit.’

Tour guides say the plaque sends a concerning message to incoming students who may be learning or aware of the controversy surrounding ‘The Eyes of Texas’ historical connection to racism.

“It’s put us in an unfortunate position as tour guides. We feel a little bit thrown off. What to say, what can we say, what we shouldn’t say,” said Walker.

“The welcome center is a place where young high school kids are coming in to investigate,” said UT Senior and Texas Tour Guide Megan Eden. “Is it going to include me or not, is it going to look out for me and my wellbeing and safety?”

Baldwin added, “We don’t want that visible display in the welcome center because it hurts students who look like me. It hurts students who are from marginalized communities. And we ultimately want a welcome center that is inclusive and representative of all students at UT Austin.”

These students emphasized their concerns with the university and office of admissions leaders at the beginning of this year. Yet, months later, students claim the university has still not answered their concerns or attempted to take down the plaque.

“We had conversations that were arranged for us with people that were close to President Jay Hartzell and we had three of those scheduled over Zoom within one week, “said student Amelia Mercado. “They were very hostile and referred a lot to the Eyes of Texas report, but then also tried to tell us that the song was not created in a racist origin, and we just had a lot of disagreement about the history of the song.”

The ongoing strike comes just days after some UT faculty joined member of the UT student community with their own petition to get rid of ‘The Eyes of Texas’ as the school’s song. Last Thursday, History Professor Dr. Alberto Martínez led a virtual talk on the history of ‘The Eyes of Texas’ to UT's honorary service group, the Orange Jackets. Martinez told CBS Austin via email that at one point someone turned on their camera and “a large gun being loaded with bullets.”

UTPD tells CBS Austin they are investigating the incident. The university has not yet responded to requests for comment on the incident.

“It’s scary as hell, but its things like thatinstances like that where people feel like they can get on a Zoom call and spew hate like that that make us understand how important what we’re doing actually is,” said Eden.

Eden hopes that this strike serves as a catalyst for change when it comes to how and if ‘The Eyes of Texas’ should remain a part of the university’s future.

“Me? I don’t see an end to this strike until the plaque is down,” she said.

“This is not cancel culture, rather a refusal to glorify and champion a song that has an overtly racist history,” said Texas Tour Guide Jane Cloninger.

RELATED: UT faculty sign petition demanding "The Eyes of Texas" no longer be alma mater song

CBS Austin asked the university for comment on the strike and the student’s request to take the plaque down. A spokesperson for the university referred to a letter sent to students this week regarding the strike:

The letter, sent by Miguel Wasielewski, Executive Director of the Office of Admissions, says in part:

Thank you for your work and your continued commitment to The University of Texas. Also, thank you for sharing your input related to the Eyes of Texas panel on the Traditions wall in the Admissions Welcome Center (AWC). We hear the concerns expressed in your emails, in personal conversations with me and others on our team, and in the meetings held this past week.

The Texas Guides serve as the ambassadors of the institution, conveying a message of opportunity and excellence. The tours and presentations made through the AWC have been critical to helping students see themselves as Longhorns. We understand you may no longer desire to serve in this role based on your feelings about the University’s long-standing school song. If you no longer wish to serve as a Texas Tour Guide, please inform your supervisor so that your request can be processed.

The letter also indicates that going forward the admissions office will coordinate pathways to receive input from student employees and volunteers and provide updates.

We will also provide additional training for questions related to the Eyes of Texas to assist with a positive tour experience for our visitors.
Click to expand...

“We, Texas Tour Guides, are the very reason that people decide to attend this university,". Seriously?? Next group of tour guides to the front of the line please.
 
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beeevo1 said:
That statement alone tells you all you need to know. Fire all their asses immediately. This is becoming a joke.
Click to expand...
you would think, as a group putting together a comms on this, someone, at least 1 person would remove that sentence as the most silly thing to say.
 
The Sundance Kid said:
Tour Guide Strike:

AUSTIN, Texas — An intensifying debate over the University of Texas' alma mater is developing into a new student strike.

“We care about this school so much that we are willing to put our voices out there,” said Kendall Walker.

UT student tour guides go on strike as 'The Eyes of Texas' controversy intensifies


Walker is among a group of UT Austin students who volunteer as Texas Tour Guides. These students are often among the first faces prospective longhorns see when they first visit the campus.


“We, Texas Tour Guides, are the very reason that people decide to attend this university, so we should have a say in what the welcome center looks like and what information is being represented about our university,” said tour guide student Jeremiah Baldwin.

Around 56 Texas Tour Guides started the strike on Saturday, refusing to show up to work and tour guide shifts until a plaque with the 'The Eyes of Texas' lyrics is removed from University's Admissions Welcome Center. The plaque is currently on display for any person who walks into the building to see and is featured on a wall of photos called ‘traditions and spirit.’

Tour guides say the plaque sends a concerning message to incoming students who may be learning or aware of the controversy surrounding ‘The Eyes of Texas’ historical connection to racism.

“It’s put us in an unfortunate position as tour guides. We feel a little bit thrown off. What to say, what can we say, what we shouldn’t say,” said Walker.

“The welcome center is a place where young high school kids are coming in to investigate,” said UT Senior and Texas Tour Guide Megan Eden. “Is it going to include me or not, is it going to look out for me and my wellbeing and safety?”

Baldwin added, “We don’t want that visible display in the welcome center because it hurts students who look like me. It hurts students who are from marginalized communities. And we ultimately want a welcome center that is inclusive and representative of all students at UT Austin.”

These students emphasized their concerns with the university and office of admissions leaders at the beginning of this year. Yet, months later, students claim the university has still not answered their concerns or attempted to take down the plaque.

“We had conversations that were arranged for us with people that were close to President Jay Hartzell and we had three of those scheduled over Zoom within one week, “said student Amelia Mercado. “They were very hostile and referred a lot to the Eyes of Texas report, but then also tried to tell us that the song was not created in a racist origin, and we just had a lot of disagreement about the history of the song.”

The ongoing strike comes just days after some UT faculty joined member of the UT student community with their own petition to get rid of ‘The Eyes of Texas’ as the school’s song. Last Thursday, History Professor Dr. Alberto Martínez led a virtual talk on the history of ‘The Eyes of Texas’ to UT's honorary service group, the Orange Jackets. Martinez told CBS Austin via email that at one point someone turned on their camera and “a large gun being loaded with bullets.”

UTPD tells CBS Austin they are investigating the incident. The university has not yet responded to requests for comment on the incident.

“It’s scary as hell, but its things like thatinstances like that where people feel like they can get on a Zoom call and spew hate like that that make us understand how important what we’re doing actually is,” said Eden.

Eden hopes that this strike serves as a catalyst for change when it comes to how and if ‘The Eyes of Texas’ should remain a part of the university’s future.

“Me? I don’t see an end to this strike until the plaque is down,” she said.

“This is not cancel culture, rather a refusal to glorify and champion a song that has an overtly racist history,” said Texas Tour Guide Jane Cloninger.

RELATED: UT faculty sign petition demanding "The Eyes of Texas" no longer be alma mater song

CBS Austin asked the university for comment on the strike and the student’s request to take the plaque down. A spokesperson for the university referred to a letter sent to students this week regarding the strike:

The letter, sent by Miguel Wasielewski, Executive Director of the Office of Admissions, says in part:

Thank you for your work and your continued commitment to The University of Texas. Also, thank you for sharing your input related to the Eyes of Texas panel on the Traditions wall in the Admissions Welcome Center (AWC). We hear the concerns expressed in your emails, in personal conversations with me and others on our team, and in the meetings held this past week.

The Texas Guides serve as the ambassadors of the institution, conveying a message of opportunity and excellence. The tours and presentations made through the AWC have been critical to helping students see themselves as Longhorns. We understand you may no longer desire to serve in this role based on your feelings about the University’s long-standing school song. If you no longer wish to serve as a Texas Tour Guide, please inform your supervisor so that your request can be processed.

The letter also indicates that going forward the admissions office will coordinate pathways to receive input from student employees and volunteers and provide updates.

We will also provide additional training for questions related to the Eyes of Texas to assist with a positive tour experience for our visitors.
Click to expand...
"Well,.... Bye" Gif
 
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longhorn4444 said:
"We, Texas Tour Guides, are the very reason that people decide to attend this university"

What a crock of blubber.
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You're so important you have to VOLUNTEER to do it..... tell me you're not all that important without SAYING "I'm not all that important."
 
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I could not make it beyond this line in the article:
We, Texas Tour Guides, are the very reason that people decide to attend this university,

Can anyone respond if they know of one person that attended UT because of the tour guide?

I think the school should follow the path of museums and replace them with recorded tour guides.
 
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Why doesn't UT just have the alumni and students vote on whether to keep the song or not? I imagine it would go down much like the Austin homeless camping vote, in other words it would be a blow out and the woke go-hards would see clearly that their extreme views are in the minority in spite of the excessive noise they create on twitter and reddit etc.
 
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2EggMcMuffins said:
“We, Texas Tour Guides, are the very reason that people decide to attend this university, so we should have a say in what the welcome center looks like and what information is being represented about our university,” said tour guide student Jeremiah Baldwin.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Okay, come on CDC we need ELITE student tour guides if we want to win championships.
Click to expand...
So, if we get rid of these tour guides then we won't have such a huge number of applications and a higher percentage of kids that apply can actually get to be Texas Longhorns...instead of ending up at OU or Ole Miss or Bammer?

That sounds like a good thing to me. Let all the tour guides go to Bammer and OU.
 
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jaw05 said:
The tour guides at A&M successfully kept me from going there.

A few seconds of watching the aggie chants creeped the hell out of me.
Click to expand...
Nah, come on. Admit it. It was when they told you not to take off your cap or walk on the grass, wasn't it?
 
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