University of Texas at Austin students rallied Monday to condemn Republican Bo French, a candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, after he posted a photo of South Asian graduates on X and labeled the students “foreigners” who are “displacing” American citizens.
French’s post and the backlash
French’s post featured a screenshot from a Texas Athletics video showing a group of students celebrating a Longhorn touchdown. He wrote, “I heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn’t believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.” The caption framed the students as a threat to native‑born Americans.
The post quickly spread across social media, drawing derisive comments such as “Bollywood University,” “Are we watching a cricket game,” and “The America we grew up in no longer exists.” Students described the reaction as “insane” and “disgusting.”
Student voices
Dhairya Gupta, a senior featured in the photo, said he is accustomed to online harassment but was shocked to see a political candidate target him and his friends. “When I look at that picture, I don’t see a problem,” Gupta told The Texas Tribune, adding that the comments were “blatant racism” used to divide the campus community.
Arsheeya Moyeen, a sophomore, called French’s use of the image “extremely unprofessional” and said it was “out of context.” She added that such rhetoric normalizes hateful speech online.
Lisa Varghese, another student in the same section, said sports should unite people, not be weaponized for racial division. “To complain about skin color and say people are ‘taking over’ UT Austin is just disgusting,” she said.
University and regent responses
Kevin Eltife, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, posted a statement praising the Longhorn fans who filled the stadium and affirmed that “all of our Longhorn students are remarkable.” UT President Jim Davis also posted that the university’s students are “exceptional” and “all of them are Longhorns.” Both statements were shared within hours of French’s tweet.
Political context
French’s remarks echo a broader pattern of conservative lawmakers challenging diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at public universities. While the citizenship status of the students in the photo is unknown, Gupta told The Dallas Morning News he is a naturalized citizen.
UT’s admissions policies reflect state law: 90% of freshmen must be Texas residents, with the remaining 10% split between out‑of‑state and international students. International students comprised about 4% of undergraduates in the 2025‑26 school year. Approximately 26% of undergraduate students are Asian, up from 20% a decade ago, while the white student share has fallen from 44% to about 29% over the same period.
Republican reaction
French’s comments have been condemned by several fellow Republicans, though some have continued to endorse his candidacy. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions within the party over how to address demographic changes at Texas’s flagship university.
French has not responded to requests for comment since the incident.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
