Harvard University, widely regarded as one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, has come in last place in the 2024 national free speech rankings. This is the second consecutive year that Harvard has held this dubious title, according to a report by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). Out of 248 colleges and universities surveyed, Harvard’s free speech climate was labeled "abysmal," with the university receiving a shocking score of 0.00 — a rating FIRE admits was "generous" as the true score was -10.69.
The rankings, based on surveys of over 55,000 students, highlight significant concerns about free expression on campus. More than half of Harvard students reported self-censoring their views at least once a month, with many fearing that voicing unpopular opinions could result in reputational damage. This high level of self-censorship and the administration’s poor support for free speech led to Harvard’s disastrous ranking.
Free speech on campus.https://t.co/j4VGyAiCfL
— Cass Sunstein (@CassSunstein) September 12, 2024
Free speech issues at Harvard reflect a growing trend in higher education. Conservative speakers, in particular, face resistance, with 72% of students at Harvard opposing such speakers on campus. Disturbingly, 27% of students indicated that using violence to stop campus speech could be acceptable in some cases.
These statistics paint a bleak picture of the state of open dialogue at what is supposed to be one of the nation’s leading academic institutions.
Talmudic Jew suing Harvard for not censoring free speech is met with resounding applause at the RNC pic.twitter.com/rHcFQIvOHF
— A. Westgate (@a_westgate) July 18, 2024
Harvard’s position at the bottom of the rankings is particularly striking given the contrast with other elite universities that also performed poorly. The University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University, and Dartmouth College, for example, all ranked in the bottom 10 alongside Harvard.
While these schools face similar struggles, none have been hit as hard as Harvard in terms of free speech climate, with FIRE noting the significant role of administrative policies that undermine open debate on campus.
The FIRE report also revealed a deep partisan divide regarding free speech. Conservative viewpoints, in particular, face significant opposition on campuses nationwide, with students more likely to push back against conservative speakers and ideas. This environment contributes to an atmosphere where diverse viewpoints are increasingly suppressed.
As Harvard and other elite schools grapple with these challenges, institutions like Michigan Technological University and Auburn University topped the rankings, showing that some schools are fostering environments more conducive to free expression. Harvard’s abysmal free speech score is a stark reminder of the work that needs to be done to restore true academic freedom and robust dialogue on American campuses.
