I am happy to see the recent rise in student activism at some universities.
At the same time, I am very disturbed by the development of dynamics enforcing silence that I have seen through my work at science/engineering universities.
With faculty, I have seen two manifestations of this trend to enforce silence.
First, the reduction in public support for education has led to increased financial dependence on the private sector and the US military. Faculty understand that voicing perspectives unfavorable towards corporate sponsors or the military puts them at risk for loss of funding. Given that status quo economics in the US maintain racial disparities, my sense is that concern for the consequences plays a factor in faculty tendency to avoid the topic racial justice.
Second, many universities have adopted a business model by which they cut costs by hiring adjuncts rather than tenured professors. Adjuncts know that criticizing their university can easily lead to their being fired.
With students, I have seen similar dynamics.
Students, particularly graduated students and undergraduate students in coop or internship programs, understand that speaking out or taking actions for racial or social justice will impact their ability to maintain their status and to gain employment in the future.
Foreign students face even more dire consequences. Speaking out may result in them losing their visas.
I am aware of, and work with, small groups of activists students and faculty at several science/engineering universities. This is encouraging. If anybody has information on larger scale racial justice and/or social justice activism at science/engineering universities, please let me know.