TTUHSC staff member suspended due to ‘antisemitic’ social media comments

LUBBOCK, Texas — A Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center employee has been suspended with pay due to “antisemitic” comments on social media, according to a statement from university officials. An investigation will be conducted by the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at the Texas Tech University System.

See below for more.

The following statement is made on behalf of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center President Lori Rice-Spearman, Ph.D., and Texas Tech University System Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.:

Rudy Meixell, a unit manager in the library on the Lubbock campus at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, posted a series of social media comments that we were made aware of yesterday, August 30, 2024.  We find his social media comments to be hateful, antisemitic, and unacceptable. These social media comments are antithetical to our values, including those found in System Regulation 01.05 .

We take the First Amendment’s application to public universities seriously; however, we are also committed to providing a safe learning and working environment that is free from harassment, including antisemitic harassment, and will not tolerate behavior that crosses the line into harassment and interferes with or limits the ability of an individual to participate in the educational activities of TTUHSC.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has recently warned universities that they have the duty under Title VI to take prompt action if it knows, or even should have known , that discriminatory harassment has occurred. The OCR stated that, “…a school violates Title VI when it fails to take adequate steps to address discriminatory harassment, such as antisemitic harassment.” Similarly, Governor Abbott’s Executive Order No. GA-44 issued on March 27, 2024, prohibits antisemitism at Texas public institutions of higher education.

Consequently, TTUHSC has immediately suspended Rudy Meixell with pay pending an investigation that will be conducted by the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at the Texas Tech University System (System).  OEO will investigate whether any of the antisemitic sentiments expressed by Meixell’s social media comments have found their way into the academic or the work environment and are deemed to be discriminatory harassment.  If it is determined by OEO that discriminatory harassment has occurred, TTUHSC will take prompt and effective action.  There will be no further comment from System or TTUHSC personnel until the investigation has been completed.

TTUHSC is committed to the success and safety of its students, staff and faculty. If a member of the TTUHSC community is aware of any discriminatory harassment, including antisemitic harassment, it can be reported directly to OEO via the process outlined in TTUHSC OP 51.02 and the matter will be investigated.

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