Texas State University President addresses "hateful" and "disgusting" protest on campus

Texas State University officials and a state lawmaker are speaking out after an incident Wednesday where on the San Marcos campus.

In a Thursday, Texas State President Kelly Damphousse confirmed the demonstrators were not affiliated with the university and carried signs with what he described as "disgusting messages" that made the campus community feel unsafe.

"I condemn the hateful words these two men wrote and spoke while they were on our campus," Damphousse wrote. "That kind of hate is not welcome here."

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The incident, which occurred shortly after noon Wednesday outside the Johnson Student Center, drew a crowd of counter-protesting students. One sign displayed by the demonstrators read "Women are Property," according to witnesses.

"I know these men caused a wide range of emotions among the members of our Bobcat family, including fear, anxiety, and anger. This was particularly upsetting to me because nothing is more important than the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students. These men made our campus community feel unsafe, and that disturbs me deeply, Damphousse said.

State Rep. Erin Zwiener commended the university's response, noting that officials protected the free speech rights of both the demonstrators and students while maintaining safety.

"I'm also so proud of the students for speaking back to the heinous misogynistic, racist, and homophobic words of the demonstrators," Zwiener said in a social media post. "The students responded loudly and with love and support for their fellow students."

Damphousse explained that as a public university, Texas State is legally required to allow expressive activities in outdoor campus spaces, even by external groups. The university deployed a trained response team and campus police officers to monitor the situation.

"Similar events have occurred on campuses across Texas this week," Damphousse noted in his message, adding that the demonstrators left campus after about an hour. No arrests were made, though the university is "exploring potential legal responses."

Damphousse said they have developed procedures to keep everyone safe during "expressive activity."

"As observers of expressive activity, we must also understand what we can do to keep ourselves and our community safe; this includes monitoring our own behavior to make sure that we are not violating laws or university policy," Damphousse said. "Throwing things at or assaulting demonstrators can result in you getting in trouble and may incite others to do the same."

The university has made mental health resources available to students affected by the incident.