The 2020 version of the annual Top 10 ‘Worst-Of-The-Worst’ for freedom of speech is out. The list is put together by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). It includes 10 schools FIRE believes are hampering free speech.
FIRE chooses schools on the basis of documented instances of free speech violations.
Harvard scores in the top 10 again and again
Harvard University made the annual top 10 list again though it may not really want to be there. It is not at all surprising given the faculty, graduation policies and positions the school supports. It is a bastion of Marxist dogma, Ivy designation notwithstanding. This is the fifth time Harvard has made the list.
Harvard’s transgressions included: Blacklisted students who were part of “single-gender clubs” from being eligible for certain scholarships. Harvard found providing a defense for Harvey Weinstein to be a firing offense for a faculty member. Harvard implemented a policy requiring events with “controversial” speakers to have an unbiased moderator. In this day and age what the heck is a controversial speaker? Really, that’s just code for someone the administration does not agree. And who gets to decide what unbiased means in a moderator?
Harvard’s inclusion is particularly notable. It enjoys the esteemed company of Ivy League schools. Many consider it to be one of the nation’s and the world’s best colleges. Now it can lay claim to being among the most intolerant and illiberal. Won’t the alumni be proud?
The northeast scores big with 7 of 10 top spots
The top 10 universities listed by FIRE for “worst-of-the-worst” for freedom of speech include, in alphabetical order: Babson College, Doane University, Harvard University, Jones College, Long Island University Post, Middlebury College, Portland State University, Syracuse University, University of Connecticut, and the University of Scranton.
The list includes two schools from Massachusetts, two schools from New York, and one each from Vermont, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Nebraska, Florida, and Oregon. Isn’t it interesting 70% of the most anti-free speech schools on the list are from the northeast? Why is that? Does it concern you?
Free speech issues have become a major topic of conversation on campuses across the country. FIRE hopes one day its list is no longer necessary. The use of the list is to highlight free speech intrusions. Robert Shibley, FIRE’s executive director says, “Our hope is that one day creating this list will be difficult, not because of the sheer number of contenders, but because of how few colleges and universities are eager to censor.” The 2020 version of the annual Top 10 ‘Worst-Of-The-Worst’ for freedom of speech is out and the northeast is its home.