U.S. Colleges Face Declining Free Speech Amid Rising Hostility
A survey by FIRE shows that over 40% of students find controversial topics like abortion, transgender rights, and the Israel-Palestine conflict difficult to discuss on campus, with conservative students becoming less tolerant of controversial speakers and more accepting of disruptive methods like shouting down or even using violence against speakers. The trend indicates a decline in free speech tolerance, especially among conservative students, amid ongoing campus protests and political tensions.