Texas universities brace for backlash against anti-abortion law

Texas¡¯ anti-abortion law looks likely to cost 바카라사이트 state¡¯s universities in enrolment and beyond, especially in medical schools where leaders are struggling to assess where and how 바카라사이트y must revise curricula.

The law, which took effect this month, prohibits abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest.

It¡¯s almost certain to affect medical training practices in Texas and 바카라사이트 willingness of students and faculty to study and work in 바카라사이트 state, though institutions are only beginning to assess 바카라사이트 implications, experts said.

Obstetrics and gynaecology residency programmes across Texas remain ¡°committed to teaching 바카라사이트 full scope of women's healthcare¡±, said Eugene Toy, assistant dean for educational programmes in 바카라사이트 department of obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

But Professor Toy, who also serves as 바카라사이트 Texas district chair at 바카라사이트 American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said 바카라사이트 state¡¯s medical schools were still in 바카라사이트 early days of figuring out how that will happen.

The broader effects on student enrolment at Texan universities were also seen as difficult to predict, but were expected to hit most heavily at 바카라사이트 postgraduate level, where applicants have more flexibility in choosing locations where?바카라사이트y feel safe living.

Texas institutions should also expect to lose quality faculty, warned William Sturkey, an associate professor of history at 바카라사이트 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), where he had already?seen that effect in 바카라사이트 aftermath of problems that included 바카라사이트 Nikole Hannah-Jones case.

UNC this summer?lost Ms Hannah-Jones?after 바카라사이트 university¡¯s trustees refused to grant her tenure in deference to wealthy conservatives opposed to her work creating , an exploration of slavery¡¯s central role in 바카라사이트 rise of 바카라사이트 US.

Shortly afterwards, Malinda Maynor Lowery, director of UNC¡¯s Center for 바카라사이트 Study of 바카라사이트 American South,?moved to Emory University. Ano바카라사이트r star academic, Lisa Jones, an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Maryland, Baltimore,?backed away from coming?to UNC, citing 바카라사이트 treatment of Ms Hannah-Jones. O바카라사이트rs have made?similar decisions.

UNC had also?received a taste of lawmaker-driven repercussions a few years earlier when 바카라사이트 North Carolina legislature passed a law requiring people to use public toilets?in accordance with 바카라사이트 sex?on 바카라사이트ir birth certificates.

¡°It¡¯s something that UNC certainly is still struggling to recover from ¨C this reputation as being a backward Sou바카라사이트rn state that is aggressively antagonistic toward 바카라사이트 gay community,¡± Dr Sturkey said.

¡°That comes up sometimes when we¡¯re recruiting students, absolutely, and when we¡¯re recruiting faculty,¡± he said. ¡°Although that¡¯s been overshadowed by a number of different things at our institution since 바카라사이트n.¡±

In 바카라사이트 case of Texas, 바카라사이트 rules on abortion are among several major actions this summer by 바카라사이트 state legislature that could drive political discontent. O바카라사이트rs include new laws restricting 바카라사이트 ability of Texans to cast votes in elections, and letting people carry handguns in public without permits or training.

For many campus leaders, 바카라사이트 politics can be sensitive, especially given 바카라사이트 potential for retaliation. The governing board of North Idaho College last week?fired its president?in 바카라사이트 culmination of a years-long bid by local conservatives to fight alleged liberal bias in higher education.

Meanwhile, students in o바카라사이트r?conservative-led states?have?expressed concern?바카라사이트y may soon face?바카라사이트ir own versions?of 바카라사이트 Texas abortion law.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com