This is simply appalling. It is a blatant interference in the freedom of students to learn honest truths about their history and the freedom of professors to discuss matters of race and gender openly in their courses. Would a course about the history of racist violence, lynchings, or KKK intimidation in Texas be forbidden under these rules? Would a sociology course on the inequalities of opportunity and outcome created by gender discrimination be forbidden? The regents who have approved these new rules limiting academic content show complete disregard and ignorance of the value of open-minded inquiry and academic freedom and the rights of both students and professors. Philosophy, history, sociology, political science, literature, and anthropology are all threatened by these policies.
Texas A&M Tightens Rules on Talking About Race and Gender in Classes https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/us/texas-am-gender-race-ideology-rules-classroom.html?smid=nytcore-android-share
Affirming Democracy, Gathering Resistance 
Every day there is a new and appalling attack on academic freedom. At Indiana U, a professor has been suspended for teaching a section on white supremacy. On Thursday at Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, we had a book launch for In the Spirit of H. Chandler Davis: Activism and the Struggle for Academic Freedom, which I co-edited. Historian Ellen Schrecker, well known for her work on higher education and academic freedom, particularly in the McCarthy Era, spoke and said that the period we are now in is far worse than the McCarthy Era — but that there are also more acts of collective and institutional resistance than was ever the case during the Red Scares. So she is hopeful!
Here is a good overview of recent attacks on academic freedom, by Scott Prosterman on Juan Cole’s “Informed Comment” blog.