why is mark welsh stepping down

Mark Welsh is stepping down as president of Texas A&M University due to the fallout from a viral video that showed a student confronting a professor over gender content in a children's literature class. The controversy, which sparked widespread backlash and criticism from Republican lawmakers including Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, centered on the university's handling of the situation and Welsh's initial refusal to fire the professor. Although Welsh eventually fired the professor, this did not satisfy critics, leading to intensified calls for change in the university leadership. The Texas A&M University System Chancellor Glenn Hegar praised Welsh's service but agreed that it was the right moment for a leadership transition to position the university for continued excellence. Welsh himself said he decided to step down because "it's become clear now is that time" without explicitly referencing the controversy. His resignation reflects broader political tensions around gender identity discussions and curriculum control in Texas public universities.