University of Texas at Dallas: Administration Sanctions Student Editor Over Editorial Disclaimer

On July 30, 2024, Jade Steinberg, president of University of Texas at Dallas Hillel, submitted a letter to the editor to student publication The Mercury about antisemitism on campus. Former Mercury editor-in-chief Gregario Olivares Gutierrez offered suggestions to improve the submission, which Steinberg accepted. Noting the letter “lacked a substantial number of credible sources,” Gutierrez then added a disclaimer, stating that the piece “does not meet the journalistic standards of The Mercury.” UT Dallas found Gutierrez responsible for discriminatory harassment for these actions and placed him on a two-year deferred suspension on November 12, 2025. On November 19, FIRE wrote UT Dallas explaining that Gutierrez’s edits and disclaimer fall squarely within his and The Mercury’s expressive rights and urging the university to clear Gutierrez’s record. On November 21, UT Dallas responded to FIRE’s letter via email. Gutierrez exercised his right to a due process hearing, and his deferred suspension is postponed pending the outcome of his appeal.