Full Breakdown
Funding Controversy: Former UT Professor's Request to Epstein Foundation
2/13/2026, 7:38:19 AM
Background on the Funding Request
In 2015, Thomas K. Hubbard, a former professor at the University of Texas (UT), sought funding from the J. Epstein Virgin Islands Foundation to support a conference titled “Theorizing Consent: Educational and Legal Perspectives on Campus Rape.” The conference, held in April 2016, aimed to explore the complexities surrounding sexual consent and the implications of Title IX regulations on university policies. Hubbard requested between $10,000 and $20,000 to supplement a $12,000 budget, which included funding from UT.
Core Event: The Conference and Its Implications
Hubbard's request for funding was made in the context of heightened scrutiny over campus sexual assault policies. He argued that the enforcement of Title IX regulations had led to unfair consequences for students, claiming that “the enforcement of the policies have prematurely terminated the careers of too many promising students.” Despite his outreach, the Epstein Foundation did not provide financial support for the conference. Hubbard later expressed regret for contacting the foundation, stating that he did not anticipate the “political circus” that would ensue following Epstein's legal troubles.
Criticism and Opposition
Hubbard's tenure at UT was marked by controversy, particularly regarding his courses on sensitive topics such as “Child and Adolescent Sexuality” and “Mythology of Rape.” Some students protested against his curriculum, alleging that it promoted pedophilia. In response to these protests, Hubbard filed lawsuits against several students, claiming defamation and damage to his reputation. A review by a committee of the College of Liberal Arts found that Hubbard's curriculum fell within the boundaries of academic freedom but recommended that he undergo trauma-sensitivity training.
Official Statements & Responses
In a statement, Hubbard defended his actions and expressed his belief that Epstein's foundation could contribute to meaningful discussions on consent and sexual assault. He stated, “Given his own brush with the law, I believed his Foundation might have been interested in furthering critical discussion of the contours of consent and rape.” However, he acknowledged that he would not have reached out had he known the extent of the backlash that would follow Epstein's subsequent legal issues.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While Hubbard maintained that he did not believe Epstein was a pedophile "in the technical sense," the broader implications of Epstein's actions and the nature of his relationships with young women and minors have been widely condemned. The Justice Department has estimated that Epstein abused at least 1,000 women and children over decades, raising significant ethical questions about any association with his foundation.
What's Next
Following a $700,000 settlement with UT in 2021, which required Hubbard to retire and drop all lawsuits against students, he relocated to California. The fallout from this case continues to resonate within academic circles, prompting discussions about the responsibilities of universities in addressing sexual misconduct and the implications of funding sources for academic events.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The only backlash is from the media frenzy to tar everyone who had any contact with Epstein, no matter how remote.” — Thomas K. Hubbard, Former UT Professor
- “I was not then and am not now aware of any evidence that Jeffrey Epstein was a ‘pedophile’ in the technical sense; his sexual preference appears to have been for young women aged 16-22, which would at most reflect partial ephebophilia.” — Thomas K. Hubbard, Former UT Professor
- “(The enforcement of the policies have) prematurely terminated the careers of too many promising students who, because of the disciplinary expulsion, are unable to continue their education at any university,” — Thomas K. Hubbard, Former UT Professor
- “I would like to inquire whether the Jeffrey Epstein Foundation might be willing to contribute toward the goal of giving this conference greater visibility and injecting some measure of rationality into the debate before the juggernaut of bad legislation gains further momentum,” — Thomas K. Hubbard, Former UT Professor
