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Ohio Colleges Fail Free Speech: 73% Support Censorship

9/9/2025

28 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

FIRE Grades Free Speech

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) assessed 257 colleges, with 166 receiving failing grades for free speech.
Ohio's average speech climate grade is an F; only Wright State University scored a D, ranking 49th.
73% of Ohio students support silencing speakers in specific situations.
44% of Ohio students report self-censoring monthly.
The University of Dayton received a "red light" rating for major expression restrictions.

Summary

FIRE Grades Free Speech

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) assessed 257 colleges, with 166 receiving failing grades for free speech.
Ohio's average speech climate grade is an F; only Wright State University scored a D, ranking 49th.
73% of Ohio students support silencing speakers in specific situations.
44% of Ohio students report self-censoring monthly.
The University of Dayton received a "red light" rating for major expression restrictions.

History

Historical Context

The Free Speech Movement at the University of California, Berkeley, began in 1964, advocating for student expression rights and influencing policies at numerous universities. Despite these advancements, recent statistics reveal that 166 out of 257 colleges fail free speech assessments, with 73% of Ohio students supporting speaker silencing, indicating a troubling regression in the principles of open discourse in education.

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FIRE Grades Free Speech

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) assessed 257 colleges, with 166 receiving failing grades for free speech.
Ohio's average speech climate grade is an F; only Wright State University scored a D, ranking 49th.
73% of Ohio students support silencing speakers in specific situations.
44% of Ohio students report self-censoring monthly.
The University of Dayton received a "red light" rating for major expression restrictions.

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