Instead of protecting speech and encouraging diversity and innovative thinking, the tenure system often stifles(压制)them: younger professors must win the approval of established colleagues for tenure, encouraging like-mindedness and sometimes inhibiting the free flow of ideas.
出自-2012年6月阅读原文
If you say no, even politely, you risk inhibiting further ideas, not just from that reporter, but from others who heard that you turned down the idea.