Environmental advocates are raising concerns about the treatment of a scientist at Tulane University in Louisiana, who resigned amidst accusations of censorship regarding her research on health and job disparities in the region known as Cancer Alley. Kimberly Terrell, who was the director of community engagement and a staff scientist at Tulane’s Environmental Law Clinic, claimed that her work highlighting the impacts of industrial pollution on local communities led to backlash from university and state leaders. Terrell stated that she was subjected to a gag order by the university’s law school dean, prompting her resignation after 25 years with Tulane.

The controversy stemmed from Terrell’s research, which revealed job disparities in hiring at local petrochemical facilities, disproportionately affecting minority communities. The university’s actions were criticized by grassroots environmental advocates, who praised Terrell for her data-driven research on the harm caused by the petrochemical industry to predominantly Black communities in Louisiana.

The university emphasized its commitment to academic freedom but declined to comment on Terrell’s resignation, citing it as a personnel matter. A leaked email from the law school dean indicated that the university’s leadership was concerned that the research on racial disparities could hinder support for a major redevelopment project. Despite the university’s actions, Terrell’s impactful research had been published and cited extensively, underscoring the importance of academic integrity and freedom of speech in research institutions.

The Banner sisters, advocates for community activism in Louisiana, expressed dismay over Terrell’s departure and the university’s attempts to restrict the work of the law clinic, fearing it could hinder future collaborations. The incident highlights the delicate balance between academic research, institutional interests, and advocacy for environmental justice in the face of industrial pollution.