College free-speech scores dip as students report growing self-censorship

According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, the 2027 college free-speech rankings show a pervasive lack of openness on U.S. campuses, based on responses from almost 63,000 students at 261 institutions. Arizona State University slipped to 29th out of 261, its overall grade remaining a C- despite a minor rise in its numerical score, while its openness metric sits in the bottom half of the nation and its administrative support rating fell dramatically.

The data also indicate a slight decline in students’ readiness to silence speakers through protests or violence. The article’s author, a veteran professor at ASU, contends that universities have abandoned the Socratic mission of questioning and now prioritize ideological conformity, warning that true critical thinking requires equal scrutiny of all viewpoints. He links the campus climate to broader debates over DEI curricula and recent legal challenges involving the university.