American universities are in crisis. Rising costs, censorship, and political battles have left many wondering if higher education is broken. Now a new school in Texas claims to have the answer. The University of Austin, known as UATX, is shaking things up with old-school values and bold new ideas.
Founded by conservative thinkers like historian Niall Ferguson and writer Bari Weiss, UATX says it’s done with “woke” politics. Instead of pushing diversity programs, the school focuses on merit and free speech. Classes are small, and students study classics like the Bible and Greek philosophy. The goal? To teach kids how to think, not what to think.
The campus isn’t your typical college setting. Located in a renovated downtown Austin building, there are no dorms or football teams. Instead, students work with tech companies like Elon Musk’s Neuralink. The school uses the “Chatham House Rule” to protect free speech. What’s said in class stays in class, so no one fears getting canceled for speaking their mind.
UATX’s backers include big-name conservatives. Billionaires like Joe Lonsdale and Harlan Crow have donated millions. Critics call it a “Trump University” for the right, but supporters say it’s a refuge for free thought. Students get full scholarships, paid for by these donors. The first class has just 92 kids, handpicked for their smarts and grit.
The faculty mixes scholars with real-world experts. A former Navy captain and a Greek Orthodox priest teach alongside tech entrepreneurs. Classes debate everything from politics to philosophy. Students say they’re tired of walking on eggshells at other schools. Here, they argue freely—left, right, or somewhere in between.
Some call UATX “anti-woke,” but students shrug off labels. They come from all over the political map. One kid says he’s further left than Bernie Sanders. Another jokes he’d make Trump look liberal. What unites them? A hunger for honest debate. They want their ideas tested, not sheltered.
Not everyone’s cheering. Liberal professors mock UATX as “Hogwarts for rich white kids.” They say it’s just another partisan project. But founders insist this isn’t about politics. It’s about saving education from censorship and decay. With $200 million raised, they’re betting big on their vision.
Only time will tell if UATX succeeds. But for now, it’s a bold experiment. In a divided America, this tiny Texas school is betting that truth—not trends—will win the day.
