Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, has been ranked as the worst for freedom of speech, according to a survey released by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). The rankings showed that Harvard scored zero and had a cumulative score of negative 10.69, making it the only school ranked as “abysmal” by FIRE. Harvard’s censorious climate has led over 100 faculty members to organize a Council on Academic Freedom.
FIRE’s director of polling and analytics, Sean Stevens, expressed his lack of surprise at Harvard’s ranking, stating that the university has consistently ranked near the bottom since the survey began four years ago. Stevens noted that Harvard disciplined seven out of nine professors and researchers for their speech or written work, leading to their low score.
Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in North America. Its history dates back to 1650 when it was chartered. However, despite its esteemed reputation, its restrictive climate for free speech has drawn criticism.
FIRE’s president and CEO, Greg Lukianoff, expressed concern about the influence of some of the worst-performing institutions in the rankings, including Harvard, Georgetown, Northwestern, and Dartmouth. Lukianoff emphasized that an environment in which individuals can face consequences for expressing “wrong” academic opinions is not conducive to producing reliable knowledge.
The rankings by FIRE heavily rely on the schools’ speech codes and their responses to deplatforming demands. Additionally, a survey of 55,000 students revealed that 56% of them were worried about being “canceled” for their expressions, while 27% believed that it was acceptable to use violence in certain circumstances to suppress speech on campus.
The survey also highlighted the most challenging topics to discuss on campuses, which included abortion, gun control, racial inequality, and transgender rights. These topics often generate heated debates and can lead to restrictions on free speech.
It is worth noting that this year’s best-ranked school for free speech was the Michigan Technological University in Houghton. Alabama’s Auburn University, the University of New Hampshire, Oregon State University, and Florida State University rounded out the top five.
FIRE, founded in 1999, has a mission to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought. The organization believes that these rights are fundamental to liberty and aims to protect them in educational settings.
Overall, Harvard University’s poor ranking for freedom of speech reflects the challenges faced by institutions in balancing the protection of diverse opinions and creating an inclusive environment for intellectual discourse. The survey serves as a reminder of the ongoing debates surrounding free speech on college campuses and the importance of fostering an environment that encourages open dialogue and the free exchange of ideas.
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