The demonization of student activists, removal of diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and looming budget cuts are fueling a culture of fear on Utah’s college campuses. As a citizen and as a faculty member, I am worried that this culture of fear will force faculty to retreat into their offices rather than encouraging their active participation in the public sphere.
Faculty are experiencing a time of extreme precarity. The Utah System of Higher Education has already signaled its intention to roll back faculty’s academic freedom with its updated policies. One concerning development is the use of post-tenure reviews. While accountability is important, faculty are right to question whether these reviews are being used to ensure excellence or to police political boundaries. Tenure exists to protect academic freedom, allowing faculty to pursue research and teaching on controversial or challenging topics without fear of retribution. If post-tenure reviews are weaponized to target those who study systemic inequities, climate change or histories of oppression, it sends a chilling message: Adhere to the prevailing political narrative, or risk your career. This is not accountability; it is censorship.
At a time when misinformation and political polarization threaten our democracy, academic expertise is more valuable than ever. Faculty play a crucial role in fostering informed public discourse by providing research-based insights on complex social, political and economic issues. Faculty are dedicated to the pursuit of truth, even when that truth is inconvenient or uncomfortable. When lawmakers dismiss academic expertise as partisan or ideological, they undermine the foundation of informed public discourse and evidence-based policymaking. If universities are to serve our democracy, faculty must be empowered to contribute their voices to public debates without fear of political or professional retaliation.
This does not mean that faculty are immune to critique or counterpoints. We welcome constructive criticism and robust dialogue, as these are the cornerstones of intellectual growth and the pursuit of truth. However, there is a critical distinction between healthy academic debate and the punitive measures currently being employed to silence dissenting voices. True intellectual freedom requires an environment where ideas can be challenged on their merits, not suppressed through political or institutional coercion.
For faculty, the risks are real; the cost of silence is far greater. Retreating into the safety of our offices may shield us temporarily, but it will not protect the students who rely on us, or the communities we claim to serve. I urge fellow faculty to step into the fray, to share their expertise in public discourse and to challenge the myth that higher education is inherently partisan. The truth is that our work is about equipping all students, regardless of their background or beliefs, to navigate the complexities of our political landscape with clarity, courage and critical thought.
As educators, we must refuse to let fear dictate the future of our profession and our democracy.
(Charles McMartin) Charles McMartin is an assistant professor of English specializing in composition at Utah State University Tooele.
Charles McMartin is an assistant professor of English specializing in composition at Utah State University Tooele. He earned his Ph.D. in rhetoric, composition and the teaching of English from the University of Arizona. His research focuses on culturally sustaining pedagogies, community writing, student activism and NextGen faculty and staff leaders.
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