A national survey of more than 2,000 college students found a sharp contrast between support for free expression and how students respond to offensive comments. While nearly three-quarters (74%) of students said free speech is more important than personal comfort, 71% said they would report a professor — and 57% would report a peer — for “saying something offensive.”
The survey, conducted by North Dakota State University’s Challey Institute with College Pulse, highlights a contradiction: While most students advocate for free speech, many would limit it if they find it offensive.
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Politics shapes responses
The survey found the majority of all students said they would report professors if offended by their remarks.
Broken down by ideology, liberal students were far more likely to support reporting professors for offensive remarks. Nearly eight in 10 liberal students backed censorship in such cases, compared to 56% of conservative students and 74% of independents.
A majority of all students, 57%, also favored reporting other students who make statements that other students find offensive.
Despite their mixed views on free speech, most students rejected extreme protest tactics: 82% said shouting down speakers was wrong, and more than 90% opposed blocking access to events or pulling fire alarms.
Global conflicts
The survey also explored student views on world affairs, including the Israel-Hamas war. Most students said they did not feel well-informed about the issue, with only 21% feeling “very well informed.” Two-thirds answered that “neither side” was right in the war.
The survey included 2,067 students enrolled at 472 four-year colleges and universities across the United States.
