Texas University recovers scholarships by students to kneel while singing the national anthem

Austin, Texas – On April 2, 2025, the University of Texas (UT) made a controversial decision when the scholarship recovery of all the students who were discovered on their knees while the American national anthem was celebrated during school events. This decision quickly sparked a mixture of mixed reactions from the student community, teachers and the public.

According to the opinion of the school management, the new policy is applied to “maintain respect for the national anthem and the traditional values ​​of the country”. A UT representative said that the agency – actions are often associated with protests against social injustice and racism – will be considered a violation of the code of conduct of students receiving scholarships. The students concerned will immediately lose their financial advantages and will not be allowed to appeal.

This decision was made in the context of the debate on speech and expression in American universities. Some students protested that it was the act of “eliminating personal freedom”, while supporters welcome this decision, considering that it is a way to protect patriotism.

The reaction on social networks is also very exciting. A student from the anonymous UT shared on X: “I knelt to protest against injustice, not to fight the country. Now, my dream of studying is broken because of this.” Meanwhile, another idea wrote: “If you do not respect the national anthem, do not expect to receive money from school.”

Currently, it is not clear that students will be affected by this policy, but civil rights organizations have expressed and envisage the possibility of a dispute. The University of Texas, one of the main public schools in the United States, could continue to be at the center of a fierce debate in the near future.