A recent survey indicates that over one third of college students believe it is acceptable to use violence to prevent speakers from expressing their views on campus. The 2026 College Free Speech Rankings, conducted by the FIRE Foundation, revealed that approximately 70% of students agree that shouting down speakers is acceptable in certain situations, while 34% condone the use of violence. The survey included responses from more than 68,000 students across 257 colleges, with findings showing that 28% of respondents often self-censor during classroom discussions to avoid negative reactions.
At Claremont McKenna College in California, 61% of students stated that shouting down a speaker is acceptable in some instances, and 28% agreed that violence could be justified. Sean Stevens, chief research advisor for the ranking, commented on the results, suggesting that the findings reflect a culture that permits such actions. He noted that heightened political tensions may influence students' readiness to respond aggressively to controversial expressions.
The survey also highlighted that nearly a quarter of students self-censor around peers, while 28% do so in classroom settings due to fear of backlash for unpopular opinions. Barnard College ranked the lowest in the survey, followed by Columbia University and Indiana University, particularly in areas such as “Comfort Expressing Ideas” and “Administrative Support.” The FIRE Foundation cited high-profile free speech controversies at these institutions, including investigations into student journalists covering pro-Palestinian protests and actions taken against faculty members for their political views.
Columbia University received a score of 42.9 out of 100, losing points for demoting a professor accused of “pro-Palestinian indoctrination” and for investigating a PhD student who supported certain political positions on social media. Previous reports indicated that left-leaning students were more likely to condone violence, but the latest findings show a nearly equal divide between liberal and conservative respondents. Claremont McKenna College, despite its high scores in various categories, still reported that over a quarter of students condone violence in some cases and a third self-censor monthly.
Ilana Redstone, a sociologist at the University of Illinois, expressed concern that the issue of free speech on campuses is more severe than metrics suggest, attributing this to a moral condemnation of disagreement that has become ingrained in academic institutions. She argued that controversial viewpoints are often viewed as harmful, leading to hostility rather than constructive dialogue. Redstone emphasized the need for open conversations about differing opinions to foster a more inclusive environment.