1 in 3 college students say violent protesting can be acceptable: Survey

[KARAH RUCKER]

NEARLY A THIRD OF COLLEGE STUDENTS THINK IT’S ACCEPTABLE TO USE VIOLENCE OR OTHER METHODS TO STOP A CAMPUS SPEECH – ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY. 

THE FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION – OR FIRE – POLLED MORE THAN 50-THOUSAND COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM MORE THAN 250 UNIVERSITIES.

THEY FOUND 32 PERCENT OF STUDENTS BELIEVE IT’S AT LEAST *SOMETIMES* OKAY TO USE VIOLENCE TO STOP A CAMPUS SPEECH. 

WHILE MORE THAN HALF (51%) SAY BLOCKING OTHER STUDENTS FROM ATTENDING WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.

AND 69 PERCENT SAY SHOUTING DOWN SOMEONE TO PREVENT THEM FROM SPEAKING ON CAMPUS IS OKAY. 

AND WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING OPEN AND HONEST DIALOGUE ON CAMPUS… STUDENTS SAY THERE ARE SOME TOPICS THAT ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT THAN OTHERS… 

MORE THAN HALF (55%) SAID HAVING AN OPEN AND HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WAR IN GAZA IS DIFFICULT.

AND *NEARLY* HALF (45%) SAID ABORTION WAS A TOUGH TOPIC.

AND 42 PERCENT SAID TALKING ABOUT TRANSGENDER RIGHTS WASN’T EASY. 

ABOUT 1 IN 4 COLLEGE STUDENTS SURVEYED ALSO SAID IT WAS “NOT VERY” OR “NOT AT ALL” CLEAR IF THEIR ADMINISTRATION PROTECTS FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS.