During the Socialism 2025 conference, University of Houston professor David McNally proposed renaming the university to ‘George Floyd University’ and abolishing grades and tuition as part of a broader ‘insurgent social movement.’ His remarks, made while wearing a keffiyeh, were delivered on a panel in Chicago, where he discussed the concept of ‘de-stateification’ in the context of growing mass movements.
McNally’s vision for the university envisions a transformation that includes ‘honoring’ George Floyd, a prominent figure who died in 2020 following police violence. He emphasized the importance of the Third Ward in Houston, where Floyd grew up, highlighting the significance of renaming the university as a tribute. The proposal also includes abolishing campus police and replacing them with ‘democratically constituted and elected safety committees,’ which McNally views as a more community-centric approach to safety.
Additionally, McNally suggested other changes, such as restoring the LGBTQ+ center and declaring the school a ‘sanctuary campus’ for individuals fleeing immigration authorities. These proposals came in the wake of the University of Houston closing its LGBTQ+ center in 2023 after Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17, which prohibited diversity and inclusion offices in public schools. The university’s spokesperson clarified that while faculty members have First Amendment rights, the context and circumstances of McNally’s statements could affect their interpretation.
McNally also recounted his experience during the George Floyd protests in June 2020, where he witnessed how the balance of social forces shifted and the impact it had on the local community. He believes that the ‘social insurgency’ seen in anti-Israel campus protests could represent the next insurgent moment needed to enact change if it could be ‘dramatically extended.’ The university has since hosted courses and projects on race and capitalism, including a 2022 initiative directed by McNally that explored these themes in depth.
However, the university has distanced itself from McNally’s proposals, stating they do not reflect the institution’s views. Despite this, the discussion sparked by McNally’s remarks has ignited further debate about the role of public universities in social movements and the potential for institutional change.