I Came to College Eager to Debate. I Found Self-Censorship Instead.
New York Times | Emma Camp
“I went to college to learn from my professors and peers. I welcomed an environment that champions intellectual diversity and rigorous disagreement. Instead, my college experience has been defined by strict ideological conformity.”
UVA senior Emma Camp opens up about a campus culture of self-censorship: “Students of all political persuasions hold back — in class discussions, in friendly conversations, on social media — from saying what we really think.”
As students watch how views outside a narrowly accepted window are received, they begin to self-censor. “I heard fewer classmates speak up. Eventually, our discussions became monotonous echo chambers. Absent rich debate and rigor, we became mired in socially safe ideas.”
What is the solution? It’s a culture, and university culture is influenced from on-high.
“Our universities cannot change our social interactions. But they can foster appreciation for ideological diversity in academic environments. Universities must do more than make public statements supporting free expression. We need a campus culture that prioritizes ideological diversity and strong policies that protect expression in the classroom.”
See follow-up: Why My NYT Article Inspired So Much Fury
