In a 2011 Pew Research Study on the purpose of education, “Just under half of the public (47%) says the main purpose of a college education is to teach work-related skills and knowledge. Another 39%, however, say that college is an opportunity for students to grow personally and intellectually.”
A more recent 2019 Gallup poll on the same subject confirmed that after job and career concerns, the most important reason for attending college was “general motivation to learn and gain knowledge.”
But a new poll published on 29 September, the largest ever to look at free speech on college campuses, shows a significantly growing trend of students who are intolerant of even listening to those they disagree with and many other students are fearful of retribution if they vocally disagree with professors and/or college administrators.
Nearly 20 percent of the students responding said it was legitimate to tear down posters and physically use violence to stop scheduled speakers they vehemently disagree with.
The majority of students responding said they were unlikely to freely express their opinions for fear of retribution from both professors and classmates. Only 15 percent responded “very comfortable” disagreeing with a professor, with another 30 percent being “somewhat comfortable.”
The poll of 20,000 students across 55 campuses. was conducted by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), Real Clear Education, and College Pulse.
Sean Stevens, senior research fellow in polling and analytics for FIRE, noted the survey showed, “One of the most common things that comes up is politics and perceptions. Whether they’re liberal or conservative, if they’re in a minority, they’re less likely to speak up. That’s a pretty prominent theme across the board with the political disagreements.”
Thirty-one percent of students agree that President Trump should not be allowed on campus to share his views and 22 percent were in favor of banning former Vice President Joe Biden.
Additional highlights from the poll:
- 42 percent said they believed their college would punish students for expressing strong opinions on certain subjects.
- Ivy League students were more likely to use direct protest against speakers they opposed. Thirty-six percent agreed shouting down the speaker is “always” or “sometimes” justified compared to 27 percent of non-Ivy League students.
- Sixty percent of students recalled at least one incident when they refused to give an opinion due to fear of retribution about how others might respond.
- Seven of the top ten colleges most open to free speech are public state universities with undergraduate enrollment above 15,000.
- The top five colleges for free speech are in the Midwest and West: The University of Chicago Kansas State University, Texas A&M University, University of California, Los Angeles, and Arizona State University.
- The lowest-rated colleges for free speech, with only one exception, are all in the Northeast and South: Syracuse University, Dartmouth College, Louisiana State University, University of Texas, and DePauw University (Indiana).
Summing up the survey, Executive Director of FIRE, Robert Shibley stated, “These rankings provide proof that your choice of college can make a real difference in your ability to speak your mind. Campus leaders no longer have an excuse for remaining ignorant about students who feel muzzled on their campuses. One thing is for sure: colleges have a lot of work to do.”
TREND FORECAST: As the “Greatest Depression” worsens, college enrollment will continue to decline. Thus, those who do go to college will come from a socioeconomic demographic of higher income and more like-minded views.
Picking up where political leaders left off, as evidenced by the survey – the imposition of Executive Order draconian rules and regulations that rob citizens of personal freedoms, contact trace them, and omit representation of We the People – young people are following their leaders.
Indeed, the nation has become a “Do as I say, believe in what I say, I have the last word, and if you disagree, I’ll do what I can to destroy you” mentality.