Researcher Resigns Citing Tulane Censorship On Pollution Racial Disparity

"NEW ORLEANS — A Tulane University researcher resigned Wednesday, citing censorship from university leaders who had warned that her advocacy and research exposing the Louisiana petrochemical industry’s health impacts and racial disparities in hiring had triggered blowback from donors and elected officials.

In her resignation letter, Kimberly Terrell accused the university of sacrificing academic freedom to appease Louisiana’s Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. Terrell, the director of community engagement at Tulane’s Environmental Law Clinic claimed the clinic had been “placed under a complete gag order” that barred her from making public statements about her research.

According to emails obtained by The Associated Press, university leaders wrote that the work of the law clinic had become an “impediment” to a Tulane redevelopment project reliant on support from state and private funders. The clinic represents communities fighting the petrochemical industry in court."

Jack Brook reports for the Associated Press June 11, 2025.

Source: AP, 06/16/2025