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US Academics Seek Sanctuary Amid Fears of Government Persecution
Trend: US academics are increasingly using "burner" phones and basic laptops at international conferences, similar to precautions previously taken for travel to authoritarian states like China.
Fear of Surveillance/Retribution: This behavior stems from concerns about US government surveillance and potential negative consequences upon returning home, fueled by incidents involving individuals targeted for their private opinions or associations (e.g., a French scientist denied entry, deportation actions against Dr. Rasha Alawieh and Mahmoud Khalil).
Targeting of Institutions: Universities themselves face hostility, exemplified by the Trump administration's threat to withdraw $400m in funding from Columbia University and demands for placing academic departments under receivership due to pro-Palestinian protests.
Motivations for Hostility: The article suggests hostility towards universities arises from their nature as centers of free inquiry (anathema to autocrats) and their significant financial endowments (seen as targets).
Vulnerable Research: Academics in fields like LGBTQ+ medicine, epidemiology, infectious diseases, environmental science, climate studies, social sciences, and humanities feel particularly vulnerable to political interference and intolerance.
Historical Parallels: The situation is drawing comparisons to the 1930s, when the UK and US offered refuge to scientists fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe.
European Response: Some European institutions (Aix-Marseille University, Free University of Brussels) are actively creating programs, fellowships, and housing to provide sanctuary for US researchers whose work is threatened.
UK Inaction: UK academic institutions are perceived as lagging in their response, possibly due to an outdated view of the US "special relationship" and a failure to recognize the changed political climate.
Shift in Perception: The trend highlights a significant shift where some US academics now view their own government as a potential persecutor, necessitating measures previously reserved for authoritarian regimes.