This earlier article is far more interesting; most importantly it contains the words the professor actually said; the quote in the headline of the article you link is disputed.

(Interestingly, both articles have the same author.)

https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-disenchantment-of-a-bl...

It's a long story about an ambitious academic losing at university politics, to the point of being fired from a tenured position without, allegedly, due process.

https://www.thefire.org/fired-for-criticizing-his-administra...