Texas A&M Settles with Dr. Kathleen McElroy for $1 Million

Texas A&M University System officials, including regents and the former president, were involved in discussions regarding the handling of a Black journalism professor's job offer after conservatives criticized her hiring. The university confirmed it would pay $1 million to Dr. Kathleen McElroy as part of a settlement agreement. The internal report contradicts the former president's claims of being unaware of the watering down of McElroy's offer. The report also reveals the unusual involvement of system-level regents and attempts to delay the announcement of McElroy's hiring. The university's reputation has been damaged, and concerns have been raised about the potential chilling effect on speech and the fostering of a fearful culture among faculty.