Ep. 59: The Southern War on Academic Freedom

SYNOPSIS: Classes are back in session at colleges and universities across the South, and in many conservative-dominated states students and faculty are returning to increasingly tense cultural war zones. This week, we talk to Teresa Klein, president of the Texas chapter of the American Association of University Professors. The group has filed lawsuits against two Texas public university systems over restrictions on what can be taught and how. "People are afraid," Klein says. We also look at Tennessee's erosion of academic freedom, a Texas professor denied tenure for no obvious reason except that he studies immigration enforcement, and — in better news — a Florida judge's injunction against Gov. Ron DeSantis' "Stop WOKE Act." Plus: A tribute to the late great Dolly Parton, and what she meant to the LGBTQ community in particular. SHOW NOTES: Texas AAUP "'Positively dystopian': Florida judge blocks DeSantis' anti-woke law for colleges" Politico "Pernell v. Lamb: Opinion Affirming Preliminary Injunction" North Florida U.S. District Judge Mark Walker "New law changes University of Tennessee professors' tenure protections" Knoxville News-Sentinel "'I am very pleased with the outcome' | UT reaches tentative $1.9M settlement with professor fired over Charlie Kirk comments" WBIR TV "Dare to Obey? Censorship and the Attack on Tenure in Texas" Iván Chaar López, PEN America "Dolly Parton as a Gay Icon" Wikipedia CONTACT: Jesse Mayshark [jmayshark@theprogressivesouth.org](mailto:jmayshark@theprogressivesouth.org) (865) 214-7764