Dear Bobcat Family:
As part of our decades-long tradition, Texas State University is planning a full slate of events to celebrate Black History Month on our campuses for 2026. You may have seen recent media reports about confusion related to a decision to not include the Black History 101 Mobile Museum in the university’s 2026 Black History Month programming.
Understandably, this issue is important to our university community, and it is vital to me that you have a clear understanding of what transpired.
Planning for Texas State’s 2026 Black History Month celebration began in earnest in October 2025. The planning followed our standard collaborative process, involving members of the TXST MLK and Black History Month Planning Committee, which is comprised of students, faculty, and staff from across the university. During the early stages of the planning, several program ideas were explored. To that end, a staff member in the Department of Student Involvement and Engagement reached out to the Black History 101 Mobile Museum vendor to seek information as a potential exhibitor. The museum’s curator, Dr. Khalid el-Hakim, provided general information regarding availability, format, cost, and travel. No contract or agreement was created or signed with the Black History 101 Mobile Museum during this information gathering phase.
When the committee met later in October to finalize programming, a range of options — including the Mobile Museum — were considered. Ultimately, the committee decided to highlight the rich history of Black students, faculty, staff, and alumni at TXST rather than including other options like the Mobile Museum for 2026. To be clear – there was no guidance from the central administration about any decisions related to which exhibits should be invited to campus during Black History Month.
Unfortunately, when Dr. el-Hakim was informed of the decision, the staff member incorrectly cited Senate Bill 17 among the reasons for the decision in the email. Dr. el-Hakim expressed his disappointment in a LinkedIn post in November, which was when I first became aware of the decision. On December 13, the American Civil Liberties Union contacted the university, seeking additional context for the decision.
I understand and regret the frustration this situation has caused Dr. el-Hakim and some members of our campus community. I understand how the communication mistake that linked the decision to SB17 contributed to that frustration. However, no contracts, policies, or laws were violated. Departments regularly explore many programming and vendor options that do not ultimately advance to contract, and this was such a case.
I want to correct a central misunderstanding that the Black History 101 Mobile Museum was “cancelled” or “banned.” Because no formal invitation was extended and no contract was initiated, the Mobile Museum was never officially added to the 2026 program. There was nothing to cancel and it is not banned. While it is not part of this year’s official Black History Month events, the museum may still be invited to campus by a registered student organization following our established procedures. It may also be considered again for future Black History Month programming at TXST.
I am disappointed that some online reactions have targeted a couple of our staff members, both of whom are committed to supporting and serving our students every day. While I was not part of the decision-making process, as your president, I share in the responsibility for our missteps. If you have questions or concerns, please direct them to me directly at president@txstate.edu.
Our MLK and Black History Month Committee has created a thoughtful and meaningful schedule of events for this February to reflect the pride, resilience, and excellence of Black members of our Bobcat community. I have faith in our community that this incident will not overshadow their tremendous work or the importance of celebrating Black History Month on our campuses.
Sincerely,
Kelly Damphousse