Overall, I agree with @Brisketexan on this. There should be discussion, we should listen and I hope we can keep the song. I also had the realization that the song isn't a tradition because the University admin decided it should be. It's a tradition because it resonated with students and they adopted it and carried it forward. If what resonates with students changes and evolves, maybe I shouldn't have so much of a say as an alum.
Anyway, reposting this from the football board:
Some people have said The Eyes was written for a minstrel show. I don't know if that's accurate and I agree with the "historical audit" I heard CDC suggest.
According to at least one narrative, Johnson (the minstrel director) had been trying to have a school song created for more than a year. In addition to the minstrel shows, Johnson organized "Promenade Concerts" where the band would wander campus, playing songs from other colleges but not having anything to perform specific to Texas. He contacted alumni to get involved but didn't make progress. He then reached out to John Sinclair for help with the song. He composed his first attempt in 1902, but didn't love it. A year later he wrote The Eyes.
https://jimnicar.com/ut-traditions/the-eyes-of-texas/
So, it's equally likely that the song was originally written for the purpose of giving the University a song it could call its own with a distinct Texas identity. This could be true even though the song was regrettably premiered at a minstrel show. Do I know this with 100% certainty? No, of course not. I can't interpret the intentions of college kids from over 100 years ago and neither can anyone else. That's why you should be very careful about attributing purpose and intent to individuals who aren't here to speak for themselves.
Additionally, there's another tradition dating back to these minstrel shows that I haven't seen discussed. The Varsity Band performed a lot of songs at these shows. The Varsity Band would go on to become what is today known as Longhorn Band. Would you argue Longhorn Band is a racist organization that doesn't have a place at the University today? Should it be defunded and dissolved? I would be very surprised if you said "yes." So, why is it different?
At least in my mind, we can't condemn today's Longhorn Band for the inappropriate behavior of these early members. Because when there's an illness, you treat the cause, you don't execute the patient. The cancer was racist individuals, blackface and minstrel shows. Not The Eyes itself.
John Fleming, the first black drum major of Longhorn Band, said it even best:
https://abcnews.go.com/OnCampus/story?id=7160813&page=1