If this is how Alabama universities defend employees, it's not working (COMMENTARY)

[Emile]

Alabama’s colleges and universities are scared.

And I understand why. If an administration that prioritizes ideological conformity over intellectual curiosity cut off one of my key funding sources, I’d hesitate to speak out, too.

But they don’t have a choice. Not they take their educational missions seriously.

When Alander Rocha asked some of Alabama’s key research universities about the loss of nearly $400 million in National Institutes of Health funding — money that supports research into cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and a whole host of diseases — after President Donald Trump froze the funding last month, he got silence.

The University of Alabama Birmingham, which will suffer the most from the suspension, issued a generic statement. So did the Southern Research Institute. So did the University of South Alabama.

Yes, they’re trying to figure out what’s going on. Lobbyists may be working behind the scenes to get the money back.

But for God’s sake, guys. Meekness is not a strategy. You should know that.

Last year, the Alabama Legislature — upset over intellectual debate and welcoming attitudes on college campuses — made it illegal to run a diversity, equity and inclusion program on campus, and left the door open to fire teachers who teach “divisive concepts.”

What is a divisive concept? Why, it’s anything that upsets the white Republicans in the Legislature.

Read more at: https://alabamareflector.com/2025/02/03/if-this-is-how-alabama-universities-defend-employees-its-not-working/