LSU Manship School of Mass Communication Chair, Robert Mann says he will step down at the end of the academic year following Governor-Elect Jeff Landry’s victory. Mann said he doesn’t want Landry to punish the school he loves because of his presence.
“Landry came after me in December of 2021 when I criticized his ante-vaccine lies. I just realized that if a presumptive governor could demand that LSU punish me for a tweet what can an actual governor impose on LSU or me or my department.”
Landry sent an aide to an LSU Faculty Senate meeting to read a letter stating vaccine mandates violated people’s right to religious freedom. In response, Mann tweeted “sending some flunkie to read a letter attacking COVID vaccines.”
“It’s ironic that someone who considers himself “pro-life” would be urging people not to get a life-saving vaccine and in response to that he asked President Tate to impose severe consequences on me for my speech.”
Mann has been with LSU for more than 17 years. He says he’s concerned about the future of higher education in the Bayou State under Landry’s leadership.
“He’s an enemy of higher education. He’s an enemy of academic freedom. An enemy of free speech. His closest allies are enemies of tenure. If they have their way, they’re going to do a lot of damage to higher education.”
Mann has been a vocal critic of the state government not spending money to build the school a new campus library.
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