January 1, Campus Intolerance Grows After Tragedy

Wyatt’s Take

• Most college students now call words a form of violence.
• Support for using real violence to silence speech is rising across campuses.
• Students are more fearful to speak their minds than ever before.

In a shock to common sense, 91 percent of college students now think words count as violence. Only a tiny 9 percent disagree with this upside-down view.

After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, nearly half of students feel unsafe sharing any controversial opinions, both in class and online. More students support shutting down speakers with shouts or even violence than ever before.

New surveys show a disturbing number of students, about 40 percent, believe that physical force is okay to block so-called hate speech. Some even say it’s justified to throw rocks, use chemical sprays, or worse.

A handful admit murder and arson are acceptable ways to stop speakers, with even more open to bomb threats or knife attacks. About half of students now feel uneasy attending public events on campus or just going to class.

As violence and threats go unchecked, left-leaning students become even less willing to hear ideas they dislike. Moderates and conservatives dig in, while confidence in schools protecting free speech is at rock bottom.

Most students—right and left—think political violence is a problem, but many point the finger at conservatives, ignoring the real threat brewing among radical leftists.

Read the full survey details here

Wyatt Matters

Free speech used to be a bedrock value in this country, especially in the heartland. Now, our basic rights are under attack from those too afraid to face tough conversations. If we don’t protect open debate, we’ll lose what makes our communities strong.