Perhaps you should be even more accurate and refer to your claim as a theory.  The interesting thing is that the study (which I haven't read but for now I'll accept your description) doesn't sound like it supports your theory at all.  How does it demonstrate "...the left's desire to silence any and all who disagree with them"?  That ascribed motivation is very theoretical methinks, but handy if you are trying to come up with a way to deal with the reality that academics tend to have big, smart, critically-thinking problem-solving brains and as a result they often do not tolerate the emotional stupidity that is rampant in the Trump age.

If conservatives can't handle being bombarded by reason & logic, that's sad, but let's not blame it on some drive of academics to make stupid people feel stupid.  Stupid people should naturally feel stupid when called out, but we live in a new age where people believe every thought is equally valid.  It's been a disaster for dialog in America.