Opinion | How anti-wokideology has transformed my university

In the three years since Ron Desantis wanted to free the universities of Florida from Woke ideology, my campus changed considerably. Professors were suddenly worried about what they could say and teach. Some started to avoid terms such as ‘racism’. A student recently told me that when someone in the class used ‘intersectional’, the instructor told her that word should not use.

Soon this could be the case at schools throughout the country. We have all heard stories about elite institutions that are higher in higher education before President Trump’s attack. Take it from someone who knows: it can get worse – much worse.

Mr. Trump was looked at what happened in Florida. The architect of the Education Policy of Project 2025 has said that Florida is “leading” at university overhaul. Mr. Trump has already threatened to draw financing from colleges that do not purify the language he regards, woke up. He demanded new supervision of certain departments of regional studies. Then he could try to ban it, like Florida has“Political or social activism.” He could weaken the protection that is offered by the term of office and faculty unions. I saw this happen on my campus, and I know the toll it cost. If the Trump government has its way, my experience could offer an example of what is coming for other universities.

Before Mr. Desantis began to focus on higher education, the Faculty Members of Florida could be convinced that the managers supported our professional judgments about how we can teach our students. We had open, complex discussions without fearing our career. In a conversation in one of my classes, female students expressed the fear that catcalling eradicated, and their male colleagues reacted thoughtfully, reflecting on their own behavior – a learning experience for everyone. Nowadays that conversation would, I fear, violate a law in Florida that forbids teaching male students to feel guilty of the actions of other men.

Since the performance of Mr. Desantis I have seen my colleagues harass and investigated for tackling current problems, even outside the classroom. The climate of fear gives the government exactly the result that it wants. Administrators and faculty members practice anticipatory obedience to even prevent the appearance of the week, so that the kind of open and civilian discussions that lead to students to develop their own views.

A colleague told me that he stopped assigning an article about Lynchen and white evangelicalism for fear that those conditions could increase red flags. Another said that she censored her language not only in class and on campus, but also on personal social media.

Various professors are subject to efforts in crush. Last year a man tried as a student Encourage the Muslim faculty Members to criticize Mr. Desantis and Israel. A similar incident happened to me. In October 2024, my department chair called me in his office to tell me that someone who claimed to be a student in my religion and science lesson complained that I spent 20 minutes talking about specific candidates, including who I voted and why. I was stunned. That never happened in that class or another; In contrast to the way I teach. Fortunately, the Dean’s office assured me that a single, non -under -build accusation was no reason for disciplinary measures.

Much worse than the fear of research was the way in which the accusation shook the confidence that I thought I had with my students. Did one of them hated me so that someone would lie to get me into trouble? In the end I am convinced that the person who submits the complaint was not a student in my class, but a provocateur. (It was probably no coincidence that the statement was submitted shortly after my name appeared in a Polrico -article About changes in our campus.)

That incident shattered my conviction that if I did my job well and follow the rules, I would be safe. In more than 30 years at the University of Florida I gave thousands of students, written hundreds of recommendation letters and advised countless research projects. I have published a dozen books and dozens of articles, won research and educational prizes and won in numerous university and university committees. But the state doesn’t trust me to do my work.

How can I challenge my students to ask difficult questions, to follow the research wherever it goes, if I am worried about what can happen to me if I do that? And how can I follow the rules if even university managers are not always sure how to interpret them?

Teaching is mainly the creation of a community in the classroom, a web of trust and curiosity that binds students and instructors in a shared intellectual project. Distrust, fear and self -censorship make that project impossible.

With Mr. Trump’s recent actions, the atmosphere of the campus has become more tense. His orders not only threaten the humanities and social sciences, but also research financing for voice. And while immigration agents holding and deporting international students, not -citizens on campus (and even some students who are naturized citizens) keep their heads down even more.

Such as Mr. Desantis and Richard Nixon for him, Mr. Trump and Vice President JD Vance believe that The professors are the enemy. They want ordinary Americans college instructors distrust, to consider us as intolerant militants who are only driven by political ideology.

Teaching in students has been the greatest gift of my professional life. I love my university and my students, and I do a good job. I don’t feel like indoctrinating someone. The same applies to my colleagues.

For those who think that professors are the enemy, I invite you to spend some time in our classrooms. You could discover that we are all on the same side in the end.

Anna Peterson is a professor of the religion department at the University of Florida. Her books include “With God on Our Side: Religion, Social Movements and Social Change” and “Works Justice: Material Practice in Ethical Theory.”

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