The local TV station ran the story yesterday that UT "rejected" the request to quite singing the "Eyes of Texas". This was reported during the 5:00pm news. I immediately emailed the station a copy of the letter as sent out by the Interim President along with my objection of their reporting. Within 20 minutes I received a reply from them about the word "rejected":
Email follows:
TV Station Reply: Thank you for writing in. I think you bring up a great and fair point. The source on that story was the Associated Press out of Austin. I agree their wording, and as a result ours, could have better reflected the outcome. “Rejected” assumes too much. I appreciate you for bringing it to our attention.
Text for the story:
RACIAL INJUSTICE-TEXAS
Texas keeps 'The Eyes of Texas' despite athlete demands
The University of Texas has rejected calls by its athletes to change a school song that they believe has racist undertones. “The Eyes of Texas” has long been criticized for its connection to minstrel shows with characters in blackface in the early 1900s. The school says the song will remain. Texas interim president Jim Hartzell says the Texas community has the power to determine “what the ‘Eyes of Texas’ expect of us, what they demand of us.”