A recent survey of over 50,000 college students from 258 universities revealed that 32% believe it can be acceptable to use violence to stop a campus speech in certain circumstances. The survey was conducted by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a First Amendment group, and is the fifth released by the organization.
FIRE’s survey covered various questions about students’ attitudes towards free expression and the overall climate at their universities. The organization also ranked schools based on student reports, formal speech policies, and the administration’s history of speech-stifling actions.
The University of Virginia (UVA) topped the rankings this year, while Harvard ranked last for the second consecutive year. The ranking process is intricate, with UVA excelling in administrative support for free speech but lagging in student opinion categories like support for disruptive conduct and self-censorship.
The survey also highlighted a rise in students’ support for disruptive or violent protest activities, with 37% finding it acceptable to shout down a speaker and 32% agreeing that violence could be justified in certain circumstances. This trend is concerning, especially considering the lack of clarity on what constitutes violence in the survey.
The contentious anti-Israel protests on campuses last year may have influenced these shifts, with 55% of students finding it challenging to have open conversations about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
In addition to free speech issues, the survey also delved into students’ mental health, revealing high levels of anxiety, loneliness, and depression among respondents.
Despite these challenges, the report found a decrease in student concerns about self-censorship, indicating progress in fostering open dialogue on campuses.
