Does Free Speech Still Matter?

As I wrote about a few weeks ago, there is a growing crisis whereby free speech is being curtailed on college campuses across the United States. The crisis invariably impacts the freedom of religious expression, at all levels of society. Without freedom of speech, the whole of modern democracy is at risk. But strangely, the majority of Americans want to get rid of it.

Within the past five years or so, a number of secular, college campuses began to restrict Christian campus organizations from being able to require their leaders to subscribe to their own statements of faith. That is like requiring the chess club to open up their leadership standards to accept new leaders who hate chess.

But there is some good news. A number of college campuses are bucking the anti-free-speech trend. A recent survey by RealClear Education, of various experts on free speech, indicates that there still are a number of colleges and universities that value free speech, viewpoint diversity, and open inquiry.

The University of Chicago and Purdue top the list, but I was glad to see that the College of William and Mary, where I work, also made it on the list (alphabetically, it is at the bottom). I am proud to work at an institution that still values free speech, where healthy and respectful dialogue can still take place. Read the full report here.