The Texas State University Board of Regents upheld the firing and tenure revocation of tenured history professor Thomas Alter after his remarks at a socialist conference circulated online. University president Kelly Damphousse characterized Alter’s comments as incitement and supported dismissal; faculty groups and the local AAUP chapter argued the process violated campus policies and academic freedom. Alter was initially reinstated while the university conducted a standard investigatory review, but the regents ultimately affirmed the president’s action. The episode follows other high-profile faculty terminations in Texas and has intensified debates among faculty, free-speech advocates and trustees about campus governance and tenure protections.