Margaret Russell spoke with NPR about the University of Florida barring professors from testifying in a voting rights case against the state.

“When professors are hired, they are hired for their expertise in teaching, in research,” she said, “They’re not just employees of the university. They are serving the public, the students, the field of academic knowledge. And in this case, a very important area of voting rights.”

Russell said she’s never seen a ban like this imposed; the university’s decision, if maintained, would set a “disastrous” precedent of curtailing academic freedom, she said.