UTA student president impeached after racism accusations

Two of the University of Texas at Arlington’s top student government leaders was removed from their positions this week after online comments led to condemnations and protests by student organizations. The UTA Student Senate unanimously voted to remove Caitlyn Burge-Surles from her student body president position during a nearly two-hour impeachment proceeding Monday. On Tuesday, the Student Senate unanimously voted to remove Alyssa Spencer from her chief of staff position. Burge-Surles and Spencer were accused of racist behavior by student body vice president Thomason Clayton during a candidate forum for student government elections in late March, according to The Shorthorn, UTA’s student newspaper.

Clayton and student senators pointed to screenshots of a Discord server that include comments about George Floyd, Asian hate crimes and trans women allegedly made by Burge-Surles and Spencer. These screenshots were widely shared by students on social media. The Article of Impeachment against Burge-Surles states that she’s unable to fulfill her duties as president and represent the student body because of her alleged “racist remarks” and the “partisan and hostile attitude toward minorities, people of color and people of the opposing political party.” Campus organizations held a protest on March 28, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs released a statement addressing the “concerning allegations.” “We encourage students to allow University processes to investigate these allegations in a way that is fair and impartial,” the statement said. Student senators and multiple student organizations condemned these alleged actions and called for the removal or resignation of Burge-Surles, Spencer and later Clayton after he was accused of harassment and breaking Senate rules of order.