Survey finds over a third of college students accept violence to silence speakers
A new poll of more than 68,000 students at 257 colleges shows 34% think violence can be used to stop speakers, while about 70% say shouting down a speaker is sometimes acceptable.
According to the FIRE Foundation's 2026 College Free Speech Rankings, more than one-third of surveyed students consider violence an acceptable way to halt a speaker, and roughly seven-tenths approve of shouting someone down in some situations. The poll sampled over 68,000 students across 257 institutions and found that 28% frequently self-censor during classroom discussions to avoid negative reactions. At Claremont McKenna College, 61% said shouting down a speaker could be justified, and 28% endorsed violence under certain conditions, despite a liberal-leaning student body.
Barnard College fell to the bottom of the list, with Columbia University and Indiana University close behind, both penalized for handling protests related to the Israel-Hamas war and transgender issues. Researchers like Sean Stevens attribute the trend to heightened political tensions spilling onto campuses, while sociologist Ilana Redstone warns that a culture of moral condemnation of dissent is deepening the problem.
Why it matters
The findings highlight growing acceptance of suppressing speech on campuses, raising concerns about academic freedom and open debate.
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