Campus SCANDAL Exposed!

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center canceled a scheduled speech by a third-trimester abortionist after pro-life activists exposed plans to host an event promoting procedures banned under Texas law at a taxpayer-funded facility.

Story Highlights

TTUHSC canceled Dr. Shelly Sella’s talk on third-trimester abortion after pro-life groups cited violations of Texas and Lubbock abortion bans
Turning Point USA and Catholic activists mobilized behind the scenes, appealing directly to Chancellor Brandon Creighton to stop the event
University administration determined hosting the event was “not in the best interest” of the institution given state laws and taxpayer concerns
Pro-life advocates celebrated the decision as upholding Texas values and protecting unborn life on public campuses

Pro-Life Coalition Exposes Campus Abortion Event

The Knights of Columbus chapter in Lubbock alerted Turning Point USA at Texas Tech on January 19 about a scheduled campus event featuring Dr. Shelly Sella, a New Mexico physician who performs third-trimester abortions. Medical Students for Choice, a national pro-abortion group with no official Texas Tech affiliation, sponsored the talk titled “A physician’s perspective on third-trimester abortion care, ethics, and patient centered medicine.” TPUSA President Preston Parsons immediately coordinated with pro-life activists Mark Lee Dickson and Jim Baxa to challenge the event, citing multiple legal conflicts with Texas abortion restrictions and local ordinances in Lubbock.

University Cancels Event Under Legal Pressure

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center announced the cancellation just before the Monday event, stating administrators “evaluated the request and determined that it is not in the best interest of the university to host this event on campus.” The decision came after activists conducted behind-the-scenes phone calls and direct appeals to Chancellor Brandon Creighton, a former Republican state senator with a strong pro-life legislative record. TTUHSC operates as a taxpayer-funded public institution in Lubbock, where city voters approved an abortion ban in 2021 and the county followed with similar restrictions in 2023, creating clear legal conflicts with hosting an event promoting procedures illegal in Texas.

Texas Abortion Laws Define Campus Boundaries

Texas enacted comprehensive abortion restrictions following the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, banning most abortion procedures statewide. Dr. Sella describes herself as “the first woman to openly practice third-trimester abortion care in the U.S. for 20 years” and authored a book promoting late-term procedures. The stark contradiction between her advocacy and Texas law created an untenable situation for university administrators, who faced potential legal exposure and public backlash for using state facilities to promote activities banned under multiple layers of Texas legislation. This underscores how post-Dobbs state authority properly restricts taxpayer resources from advancing abortion agendas contrary to democratically enacted protections for unborn life.

Conservative Leadership Protects Pro-Life Values

Preston Parsons praised the cancellation, stating he was “elated” that “Texas Tech has upheld truth” and affirming the university “will ALWAYS be vehemently pro-life” under Creighton’s leadership. The chancellor’s influence proved decisive, as his background as a pro-life legislator aligned institutional decisions with Texas values rather than allowing controversial speakers to exploit campus facilities. The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, appointed by the governor and chaired by Cody Campbell, provides oversight ensuring compliance with state priorities. This victory demonstrates how grassroots conservative activism combined with principled leadership can successfully defend pro-life principles on public campuses against well-funded national abortion advocacy groups attempting to normalize late-term procedures.

Implications for Campus Pro-Life Activism

The successful cancellation sets a precedent for other public universities in pro-life states, showing administrators can cite legal compliance and taxpayer accountability when rejecting controversial events without triggering legitimate free speech concerns. Event organizers remain free to host Dr. Sella on private property, preserving constitutional protections while appropriately limiting use of state facilities for promoting illegal activities. Pro-life students and activists across Texas now have a model for challenging similar events, with TPUSA chapters positioned to replicate the coalition approach that proved effective at Texas Tech. The decision reinforces conservative momentum in higher education, where parents and taxpayers increasingly demand institutions reflect community values rather than serve as platforms for radical agendas attacking the sanctity of life.