Campus Free Speech Is Misunderstood by Administrators, Per a Knight-Ipsos Survey of Students
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Like many colleges and universities across the country, the University of Southern California (USC) prides itself on its “diversity advantage.” When accepting my offer of admission, I envisioned USC’s diverse campus as a space where I would finally see myself reflected in my peers. I imagined feeling empowered to share my experiences and perspectives — and to being supported by an administration that would prioritize student voices and ideas in making decisions.
During the spring semester, however, USC fell short of that ideal. To avoid repeating the same mistakes, I urge campus leaders to start listening to their students.
As student demonstrations over the war in Gaza erupted on campuses nationwide, USC’s response to brewing tensions leaned toward damage control more than real solutions. Administrators swiftly imposed and heightened campus security measures, deepening the disconnect between campus leaders and the students they are meant to support.
The result at USC was a campus on edge, with students feeling uncertain about the consequences of expressing their opinions, sympathies, and disagreements — and unheard in the decision-making processes that affected their daily lives. Bag searches and ID scans quickly became the norm. Images of Los Angeles Police Department officers wearing riot gear and carrying zip-tie handcuffs inundated our social media feeds. The campus environment, with USC locking down academic buildings, felt transformed. Jumping a fence was sometimes the only way I could get to my dorm at the end of the day. (Teen Vogue has reached out to USC for comment.)
Summer break brought a pause to activities at USC, but students across the nation are now returning to campus. As school leaders prepare for the fall semester, it is essential that they value student perspectives and input as being critical to bridging the divide between students and administrators.
A new report from the Knight Foundation and Ipsos — conducted in March, before the height of student protests at Columbia University and on other campuses — speaks to why so many college students seek out higher education in the first place. We have a deep-seated belief in the essential role of free expression in university life and the importance of spaces where our diverse voices are acknowledged and valued.
According to the Knight-Ipsos report, a majority of the 1,678 students surveyed prioritize being exposed to all types of speech, even if they may find it offensive or biased, rather than being protected from it. The survey revealed that 92% of students support the right of individuals to express unpopular opinions, while 69% believe that removing a student group due to its views undermines freedom of expression.
Students do agree, though, that hate speech is “antithetical” to university values and is rightfully considered a safety concern: 75% of survey respondents said hate speech has no place on campus.
The survey was conducted before protest encampments spread nationwide, but the findings are deeply relevant to what played out in the spring. Many students, myself included, felt that administrators prioritized protecting their external image over promoting free and open dialogue.
Meanwhile, a lack of trust in administrators impacts students well beyond times of tension and protest, directly affecting classroom behavior. As the Knight-Ipsos research highlighted, students who trust their administrators reported feeling more comfortable sharing opinions in an in-person classroom setting (64% vs. 57%) and virtual class discussions (63% vs. 54%).
Without full faith in administrators to truly hear our ideas and support us in sharing them, we become afraid to question or challenge dominant narratives, as higher education is supposed to encourage us to do. Failing to foster this openness risks alienating students and contributing to the rising trend of self-censorship on campuses, where two in three students (69%) report withholding speech.
In and out of the classroom, students are seeking spaces where they can share their perspectives and actively engage in productive disagreement. According to the Knight-Ipsos survey, only one in three students say their college has programs specifically designed to promote constructive conversations among people who disagree (32%). Of those who indicate their university lacks these programs, more than half express a desire for their college to create such programs (56%). Without these forums, students are denied the opportunity to practice disagreeing with others respectfully and productively — a necessary skill that will serve us far beyond the classroom.
As we approach a new semester, I am hopeful that administrators will attempt to reconnect with their students and restore lost trust. Instead of shutting down speech, foster dialogue. Instead of shutting out student journalists, let them report on their communities and the diversity of viewpoints on campuses. College administrators must listen to student voices and treat them as vital to create spaces that reflect the true mission and value of higher education.
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