{"id":2037255,"date":"2023-09-19T12:36:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T16:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-college-rankings-show-free-speech-is-no-longer-relevant-at-harvard\/"},"modified":"2023-09-19T12:42:40","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T16:42:40","slug":"new-college-rankings-show-free-speech-is-no-longer-relevant-at-harvard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-college-rankings-show-free-speech-is-no-longer-relevant-at-harvard\/","title":{"rendered":"New rankings reveal Harvard&#8217;s disregard for free speech."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnew-college-rankings-show-free-speech-is-no-longer-relevant-at-harvard%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2037255&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Harvard Ranked \u200cas Worst College\u2062 Campus for Free Speech<\/h2>\n<p>Earlier this month, the New\u2064 York Post published a \u200brecent report that ranked Harvard as the \u2064very worst college \u2063campus in America for free\u2062 speech. \u2062The article details the annual rankings by the Foundation\u200c for Individual Rights and\u2062 Expression (FIRE), a non-profit seeking \u2064to protect speech \u2062rights in America. FIRE\u2019s annual report\u2062 on freedom of speech at\u200d college campuses uses \u200da variety of \u2064methods\u200b to rank 254\u200b colleges nationwide, including the school\u2019s free speech policies, whether community members have been disciplined or targeted, if administrators ever \u2062stand up to defend \u2064free speech, and \u200ba student survey with over 55,000 participants. These and other factors are \u200bused \u2064to calculate \u2064a \u201cscore\u201d for each school, ranking the speech climates across varying campuses.<\/p>\n<p>Harvard, the\u2064 world\u2019s most renowned academic\u2063 institution, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefire.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scored the\u200b worst<\/a> out \u200cof\u2063 every school with\u2063 a zero \u200bout \u200bof a <a href=\"https:\/\/rankings.thefire.org\/rank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">100-point scale<\/a>. The second to last?\u2064 University of Pennsylvania with a score of 11.13. While Harvard is not exactly known for being the most conducive school for free speech in America, is it really the worst?<\/p>\n<h3>The Struggle for Freedom of Speech on \u2062College Campuses<\/h3>\n<p>Freedom of speech on college campuses\u2063 has become such\u2064 a common topic in the \u2062news that\u200d it feels like a catchphrase. As\u200c such, the question of what it really means \u200bfor a campus\u200c to facilitate discourse has become \u2062rather\u200d lucrative. Of course, a student or faculty member\u2064 at Harvard <i>can<\/i> say or \u200dwrite anything they wish,\u200d but few members of the community are quite \u200bso na\u00efve. In the past year, nine professors\u2064 and researchers faced demands to be fired because of something they \u2062had said or written, and seven out of those nine faced professional \u2064consequences \u2063(FIRE).<\/p>\n<p>I have found infringement on my speech at Harvard \u2063to \u2062be more about what I\u200b am expected <i>to<\/i> say \u200bthan what I cannot say. Of course, the list \u200dof things you are better off \u2062avoiding in conversation is extensive, but the choice\u200c to do so or\u2063 not \u200bis free. \u200dWords and actions come\u2062 with\u2063 consequences, so many people self-censor simply \u200cbecause they do not wish to argue or be casually labeled with an overused descriptor.<\/p>\n<p>Here,\u200c the lack of freedom \u2063of\u200c speech relates\u200d less\u2064 to what I shouldn\u2019t say, and more to what I <i>must<\/i> say. This side of freedom pertains to those things which we are expected to say, regardless of whether we wish to or not. So-called <i>affirmations<\/i> of identity, belief, \u200dand other people\u2019s \u2062choices are expected to be shared.\u2064 Requiring students to share personal pronouns is not\u200d free speech, it is compelled speech. While any person is free\u200c to\u2064 share \u2064what they wish to be called, others should also be free not to\u2062 participate.<\/p>\n<p>Whenever I am asked my pronouns, what I wish \u2063I could answer \u200cwith is nothing. Why am I forced to subscribe \u2014 with action \u2014\u200b to someone else\u2019s personal beliefs, or\u200b be accused as a hater or\u2062 bigot?\u2063 I do not hate these people\u2019s beliefs, nor I do not care what you believe you are,\u2063 I just \u200bdo not share the same opinion \u2062and do \u2062not believe I should be required to exercise my \u200dspeech in accordance.<\/p>\n<p>To reverse the example, I personally choose not to \u2064curse, \u200cbut I do not\u200d force others not to\u2062 \u2014 they are free to speak as they wish. \u200dIt doesn\u2019t offend me either. I am confident in my own position, so I am\u2064 unaffected\u200b by \u2062the positions of others. Why would their choice\u200d offend me? It doesn\u2019t physically \u2064harm me, and it \u200cdoesn\u2019t rob me of my \u200cown \u200brights to\u200b speak, live, or worship \u2063freely.\u2063 If everyone forced\u200d their own beliefs\u2063 on each other, who could possibly speak? When some voices are \u2062amplified and others\u200b are forced to participate, speech is\u2062 no\u2062 longer free.<\/p>\n<h3>The Suppression of Controversial Speakers<\/h3>\n<p>The \u200dmost visible imposition\u2063 on speech\u200b at Harvard is\u200b against controversial speakers. The people who\u2064 wish to judge the morality of \u200bintellectual speakers to such an extent as to\u2063 violently protest them are so self-righteous that they value exclusively \u200btheir own opinions. These \u200bare the same people who fight the \u2064loudest for social equity. A proclaimed conviction for justice and equality is exposed as a deeper belief that only one set of beliefs is acceptable, \u200band all others should be\u2062 forcibly suppressed.<\/p>\n<p>One of the most damning pieces of evidence is that 27% of students in the bottom five ranked schools of FIRE\u2019s report\u200b believe it is acceptable to\u2062 use violence to stop campus speech, and 45% \u2063say\u200d that it is acceptable to block other students\u2063 from attending \u200ca speech. \u200bBy the numbers alone, this is glaring evidence that students do not believe that others should have the \u2062freedom to speak or listen how they wish.<\/p>\n<p>I recently\u2064 passed \u2062a sign in \u2063Harvard Square that asked, \u201cHow tightly should hateful speech be regulated on campus?\u201d \u200cMy \u200cresponse is, <i>who<\/i> exactly\u200d defines subjects and \u200bspeakers who are hateful? One member of the community might consider a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/student-activists-at-catholic-university-protest-mlks-pro-life-trump-supporting-niece\/\" title=\"Student Activists At Catholic University Protest MLK\u2019s Pro-Life, Trump-Supporting Niece\">pro-life speaker<\/a> to be hateful, while another might view a pro-choice\u2064 activist as hateful. \u2064Isn\u2019t that the whole point of free speech and thought? One person should not get to decide who\u2062 and\u2064 what is morally superior and worthy of being heard, rather, the community gets to show its support through attendance.<\/p>\n<h3>The Harvard Administration&#8217;s Failure to Defend Free Speech<\/h3>\n<p>Finally, the most embarrassing and \u2062predictable part of the entire FIRE report is that the Harvard Administration has proven it will <i>not<\/i> \u200dstand \u200cup and defend \u200cfree speech \u200bon its campus. It was penalized \u200cfor such a lack \u200dof action in the scoring system. By ignoring\u200c the issue at hand, Harvard assumes that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/western-nations-scramble-to-protect-universities-from-american-leftism\/\" title=\"Western Nations Scramble To Protect Universities From American Leftism\">protecting free speech<\/a> is no \u200clonger relevant \u2014 proof of just how much of a\u2064 reality speech\u200c suppression has become. For an\u2064 institution that holds such intellectual power, earned through the \u2064claims of true exploratory research and diversity of thought, it proves over and over \u200cthat this is a fallacious shell. Its intentions are clear \u2014 indoctrinate rather than educate; force scientific conclusions that support political narratives;\u200d and silence anyone whose intellect and \u200bvoice stand in the way of these goals.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Elsie Halvorsen is a senior at \u200cHarvard College, class of\u200d 2024.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><em>The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent \u200cthose \u200bof The Daily Wire.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What steps can universities take to\u2062 protect and\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/entrepreneur-launches-new-internet-browser-to-promote-free-speech\/\" title=\"Entrepreneur Launches New Internet Browser to Promote Free Speech\">promote free speech<\/a> on campus<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ence \u2063to shut down controversial speakers. This is\u2064 a dangerous and troubling trend, as it goes\u200d against the very \u2063foundations of free\u2064 speech and \u200copen\u2063 dialogue. College \u2063campuses should \u200dbe a place where ideas are challenged, debated,\u2062 and \u2063explored, not silenced and shut\u2063 down.<\/p>\n<p>It is worth noting that Harvard\u200c is\u200d not alone \u200bin facing challenges to free speech\u2064 on campus. Many other prestigious \u200cinstitutions grapple with \u2064similar \u2064issues. However, for a university that prides \u200citself on\u200c being at the forefront of academic excellence and intellectual discourse, \u2062this ranking should\u2064 serve as \u2062a wake-up call.<\/p>\n<p>The suppression of free speech not only stifles intellectual growth and diversity of thought, but\u2062 it also creates an atmosphere of fear and conformity. When students and\u200b faculty \u2064feel hesitant to express their opinions\u2064 or engage in meaningful\u2064 discussions, the\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-college-rankings-show-free-speech-is-no-longer-relevant-at-harvard\/\" title=\"New rankings reveal Harvard's disregard for free speech.\">entire learning \u2063experience suffers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Universities have a responsibility to protect and promote free speech, even if it means allowing for uncomfortable or controversial viewpoints. It is through the clash of ideas that we are able to broaden our\u2064 perspectives,\u200d challenge our\u200b assumptions, and ultimately grow as individuals.<\/p>\n<p>In order to address \u200cthe issue of \u2062free \u2064speech on campus,\u2064 universities must\u2063 actively foster an environment that encourages\u2063 open \u200ddialogue and respectful debates. This includes establishing\u2064 policies \u200dthat protect \u200dfreedom of speech, promoting \u200ctolerance and inclusiveness, and\u2063 encouraging diverse perspectives.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, administrators and faculty\u200d members must take \u200ba stand \u2064in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-cancel-culture-is-a-barrier-sen-blackburn-gop-senators-introduce-legislation-defending-free-speech\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: \u2018Cancel Culture Is A Barrier\u2019: Sen. Blackburn, GOP Senators Introduce Legislation Defending Free Speech\">defending free speech<\/a>, \u2063even when it \u200cmay \u200bbe unpopular or controversial. They\u2064 must lead\u2063 by example and demonstrate that intellectual freedom is a fundamental value that should be cherished and protected.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, students\u2062 play a crucial role in\u200b shaping the \u200ccampus climate for free\u200c speech.\u2063 They must be willing to engage in civil discourse, actively listen to opposing viewpoints,\u200c and challenge their own beliefs. By fostering a culture of open-mindedness\u2063 and respect, students can help create an environment where \u2062free speech thrives.<\/p>\n<p>It \u2064is important to remember that the purpose \u2064of\u2063 a university is not to shield students from\u2063 discomfort or protect them from ideas they may find \u200bchallenging. Rather, it is to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to\u2064 navigate\u2064 a complex and diverse world. By embracing free speech and allowing for a\u200c wide \u2062range of opinions to be expressed,\u2062 universities can fulfill this mission and truly prepare their students for the real world.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the ranking\u2063 of\u2063 Harvard as the worst college\u200c campus for free speech serves as a stark reminder of the challenges \u200dfaced by universities \u200bin maintaining an \u200benvironment that fosters open dialogue and intellectual\u200d growth. While Harvard is not alone in facing \u2062these challenges, it is crucial for institutions of higher education to prioritize and\u2063 protect free speech. Only through the free exchange of ideas can \u200ctrue \u200dunderstanding and \u2063progress be achieved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>speech in college campuses ranked Harvard as the worst in America, according to the New York Post. The report, conducted by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), aims to safeguard speech rights. Harvard&#8217;s poor ranking was highlighted in the article published earlier this month.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2427,"featured_media":2037256,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2037255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2037255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2427"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2037255"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2037255\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2037256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2037255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2037255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2037255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}