All US students are afraid to speak – and we should be worried
The Times Higher Ed | Samuel Abrams
Harvard alum and Sarah Lawrence professor Samuel Abrams (AM ‘07, PHD ‘10) cites the 2022 Free Speech Rankings when he explains that “for strong and weak Republicans, who already regularly self-censor at much higher rates than their Democratic counterparts, 63% are worried about the social and personal consequences of their expression. This is a remarkably unhealthy state of affairs in an educational environment that is supposed to be open, authentic and liberating.”
The upshot is that “all students are being deprived of the chance to develop the skills needed to navigate a complex world of difference, trade-offs and compromise, the foundation for a successful polity. Those who care about the American educational system and the democratic health of the nation should be worried. They should clamour for a genuine educational experience, one that is joyous and, at times, uncomfortable, filled with ample debate and discourse.”
Related: 2022 Free Speech and Viewpoint Diversity Rankings (FIRE and Eric Kaufmann)—Sept 2022
