Free Speech and Inclusion: How College Students Are Navigating Shifting Speech Norms
Co-authored by the Constructive Dialogue Institute and More in Common, this report brings data to inform the public conversation about the current state of free expression and inclusion on college campuses. Using a nationally representative sample of 2,618 college students, we assess whether norms of discourse skew toward liberal values, explore how students across the political spectrum experience their campus dialogue culture, and identify core values that drive conflict surrounding speech.
The data in this report paints a vivid picture where neither freedom of expression nor inclusion is thriving on college campuses across the United States, and the fight over which to prioritize is hindering learning environments desperately in need of both. However, students across all ideologies expressed a value for dialogue, making it evident that there is hope and a path forward for institutional leaders. The recommendations closing the report lay out what a strategic plan toward change could look like for higher education institutions. You can download the report below.
Key Findings
94%
of college students agree that “we should listen to others with an open mind, including those with whom we disagree.”45%
of students (almost half), including 64% of very conservative students, are "somewhat" or "very often" "afraid to share their views out of fear of offending their peers."25%
of all college students, including 40% of very liberal students, report being “somewhat” or “very often” offended by the perspectives shared by their peers.Download the Report
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