WT students march on WT president’s campus residence during Friday protest

Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News
·2 min read
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CANYON — On Friday afternoon, students from West Texas A&M University marched to deliver a box of letters, testimonies and articles to WT President Walter Wendler’s residence on campus, in deference to his cancellation and denunciation of a planned drag show on campus.

Beginning Tuesday, this was the fourth day of protests on campus since Wendler released a letter Monday to students and faculty denouncing drag shows as misogynistic, degrading to women and not consistent with the values of the university. Counter-protesters were present to express their belief that drag is inappropriate for the public square, with some protesters bringing children along to protest.

More:Groups turn out in support of WT president's letter, actions on drag show

A student drops off a box of letters to the WT president's residence Friday afternoon in Canyon.
A student drops off a box of letters to the WT president's residence Friday afternoon in Canyon.
Child counter-protesters hold signs at West Texas A&M University to support the university president's decision to cancel a drag show at the university.
Child counter-protesters hold signs at West Texas A&M University to support the university president's decision to cancel a drag show at the university.

Students marched from the center of campus to the president’s residence, chanting “Buffs for Drag” and denouncing the president for losing funding from alumni due to his anti-drag stance.

One of the organizers of the protests known as R.J. said he was pleased that he was able to get so much support from students and alumni this week and hopes that it sends a message to the university that their actions were wrong and hurtful to many students who attend the school.

More:WT president's comments on drag show cancellation stir backlash

“We were able to remain united and let our voices be heard,” R.J. said. “The fact that we had no major issues while we had the opposition on campus just shows that we were committed to having our voice heard and shows that we, unlike the university, do not shut down opposing voices. I am so proud of our group effort this week.”

Students march through the campus of West Texas A&M University on Friday in protest of WT President Walter Wendler's cancellation of an on campus drag show.
Students march through the campus of West Texas A&M University on Friday in protest of WT President Walter Wendler's cancellation of an on campus drag show.
A student talks with a counter-protester Friday at WT at a drag show protest in Canyon.
A student talks with a counter-protester Friday at WT at a drag show protest in Canyon.

He said that there will be more protests to come and that he hoped the university would do the right thing.

Also on Friday, a lawsuit was filed in Amarillo Federal Court against the university and Texas A&M University System officials. The case, being represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, asks that the university allow the charity drag show to go as originally scheduled on campus and prevent university officials from prohibiting the plaintiffs from holding similar events.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: WT students march on WT president’s residence for canceled drag show