University faculty in the South report culture of fear, doxxing, and threats

A survey of nearly 2,700 faculty across thirteen Southern states, conducted by the American Association of University Professors, found rising fear for physical safety alongside job worries, with respondents describing death threats, doxxing, and even a gun brought into a classroom to intimidate an instructor.

Legislative changes cited include Alabama's elimination of faculty governance, North Carolina's public posting requirement for course outlines, and bans in multiple states on teaching so-called divisive topics. Some faculty reported administrators screening syllabi with AI tools for banned words like gender and racism, and one professor said even transportation drew scrutiny for containing trans.

Nearly a third of respondents said they've applied to jobs outside the region since 2024, citing the political climate as the top reason, with 13% reporting lost federal grants since the current administration returned to office. At LSU, a law professor was suspended and lost his court fight after a video of profane classroom remarks about the governor and president went viral.

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