Harvard University has earned the unenviable title of being the worst school for free speech in 2023, according to the latest annual college free speech rankings by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). This Ivy League institution, renowned for its academic excellence, received a shocking 0.00-point score for free speech on a 100-point scale, far behind its academic peers. In fact, FIRE revealed that Harvard’s actual score, as per their calculations, was a dismal -10.69.
The primary reason for Harvard’s abysmal ranking was the fact that nine of its professors and researchers faced calls for punishment or termination due to their speech or written work, with seven of them actually enduring professional disciplinary action. The rankings consider various factors, including the strength of a school’s free speech policies, the number of individuals targeted for their speech, and whether the school’s administrators actively defend free speech rights.
These disappointing results come despite the formation earlier this year of the Council on Academic Freedom, consisting of over 100 Harvard professors who joined forces to advocate for open inquiry on campus.
In contrast, Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, emerged as the leading institution for free speech, achieving an impressive score of 78.01 out of a possible 100 points.
FIRE’s comprehensive survey of 55,000 current students from 254 universities also revealed disconcerting findings. It showed that 56% of students harbor concerns about facing repercussions for their speech, and a troubling 27% believe that, under certain circumstances, violence might be an acceptable means to suppress speech on campus. Overall, the state of free speech on campuses was characterized as either stagnant or possibly worse than the previous year.