The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR Texas) today condemned the State Board of Education member Brandon Hall’s call to bar Muslim Student Associations from public universities.
In a Sept. 28 interview with The Dallas Express, Hall repeated various anti-Muslim conspiracy theories, falsely labeling the MSA a “front organization for the Muslim Brotherhood” and urging Texans to demand that public universities stop the groups from operating.
The Dallas Express acknowledged that it had not independently established any evidence of foreign control of, or ties to, the MSA chapters targeted by Hall.
Muslim Student Associations have served college students across the United States since 1963. North Texas universities including the University of North Texas, Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas at Dallas describe their chapters as offering religious, educational, social and charitable programming.
The U.S. Supreme Court has held that public colleges may not deny recognition to student groups because officials disagree with their views and may not shut religious student groups out of campus spaces open to others.
The State Board of Education oversees K-12 public education. It has no authority over Texas universities or their student organizations.
Muslim students in Texas face hostility on campuses. On Oct. 30, 2025, a man disrupted a University of Houston MSA prayer gathering, shouted anti-Islamic remarks and threw a Quran into a bonfire. The same individual reportedly had targeted Muslim student groups at other Texas universities. CAIR-Houston called on law enforcement to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime.
Words like Hall’s follow students onto campus by emboldening that hostility. Families sending their children to college have concerns centered around, harassment and hazing to drugs and sexual assault. Students gathering for prayers and feeding thousands of Houstonians are not of concern.
“From organizing food distributions and charitable initiatives to creating opportunities for interfaith dialogue and civic engagement, Muslim students contribute to the well-being of their entire campus communities,” said Nimrah Riaz, chair of MSA National. “These students are not outsiders to campus life. They are leaders, volunteers and classmates who are helping shape a more connected and compassionate future. Their work deserves recognition and support, not suspicion based on their religious identity.”
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston Director, Imran Ghani, [email protected], 713-922-5270; CAIR Texas Government Affairs and Legislative Manager, Sameeha Rizvi, [email protected], 512-893-1371; CAIR-Houston Outreach Coordinator, Aliyan Hashmani, [email protected], 713-254-9476
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