AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas has announced that its traditional marching and pep bands will be required to play “The Eyes of Texas” when they return to performing, but a new band will also be created that won't play the school song with racist elements in its past.
The move was sharply criticized by the state chapter of the NAACP and it comes nearly two months after school President Jay Hartzell said no student or athlete would be required to sing the song that has been mired in controversy.
A group of Texas athletes and students last summer called for the song to be dropped amid racial injustice protests after the killing of George Floyd.