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Survey Results Show Record Levels of Campus Intolerance
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) released its sixth annual College Free Speech Rankings on Tuesday, indicating that intolerance for dissenting ideas is increasing across American college campuses. The survey, which combined student responses with evaluations of institutional speech policies and documented campus speech controversies, found that hostility toward opposing viewpoints is rising among both liberal and conservative students.
The study surveyed 68,510 students at 257 schools. According to the report, a record one in three students said it is acceptable to use violence to stop a campus speech. Additionally, record shares of respondents endorsed shouting down speakers and blocking others from entering events.
For the first time, a majority of students opposed allowing every one of six hypothetical controversial speakers—three conservative and three liberal—to appear on campus. While students remained more willing to tolerate controversial liberal speakers than conservative ones, support for allowing liberal speakers fell sharply this year.
Grading Institutions on Free Speech Protections
FIRE evaluated the 257 colleges included in the survey based on their free speech records. Of the institutions reviewed, 166 received an F for free speech. Only 10 schools earned a C, and just one school managed a B-minus.
Claremont McKenna College claimed the No. 1 position in FIRE’s latest rankings. It was followed by Purdue, the University of Chicago, Michigan Technological University, and the University of Colorado Boulder at the top of the list.
At the bottom of the rankings, Barnard College landed in last place. It was joined by Columbia, Indiana, Washington, and Northeastern in the lowest five positions.
Regional Variations in Tolerance
The survey highlighted significant variations in tolerance levels among students at different institutions. Students at Princeton, Stanford, and Harvard were among the most tolerant of controversial conservative speakers.
In contrast, a majority (53%) of students nationally would ban three right-leaning speakers. More than three-quarters of Mount Holyoke, Smith & Wellesley students would not allow all three.
Impact on Conservative Students
Greg Lukianoff, FIRE president and CEO, stated that students largely opposed allowing any controversial campus speaker regardless of politics. He noted that students are retreating from ideological encounters rather than hearing them out.
The study’s authors wrote that the atmosphere is hostile and more students believe it is acceptable to shout down speakers, block access to events, or resort to violence than ever before.
Bias, retaliation, and weak free-speech protections remain top concerns for conservatives deciding whether to send their children to politically liberal universities.
