Maybe just maybe with the 'tyranny of the easily oppressed' running rampant on almost all university campuses, he wanted to keep his tenure?

Maybe he was afraid of saying the wrong thing, being quoted out of context, and being cancelled?

Censorship has that effect. And it's not just the fault of dear white people.

It's like inviting white people to the discussion table and telling them because of their skin, only their numbers, and not their voices, will make them worthy allies...

...despite history showing that white people did indeed make worthy allies...and despite the efforts of those mired in absolutist identity politics, will hopefully continue to do so.

IOW, he's no coward. He's more than aware of what can happen when a puritanical mob gets a hold of a heretic.