Fall 2021 Research Colloquium

Political Climate on College Campuses

A Comparative Analysis of Recent Findings
Eli Mckown-Dawson under the supervision of Dr. Samuel Staley

While conducting a comparative Background Figure 2. Sample size of selected

analysis of recently conducted
political climate surveys, a set of
consistent findings emerged.
A substantial number of students
report at least an occasional
unwillingness to share their views on
sensitive topics. Students appear to
be worried about the views of both
professors and peers.
Another common theme amongst
most surveys was that party
identification tends to have an
outsized impact on students’
willingness to share their views.
Study Overall Conservative
Sheila and
Robert
Challey
57% 42%
Institute
College Pulse 47% 44%
In recent years, increased attention surveys.
has been paid to the political climate
on college campuses, as well as the
frequency of student protests and
demonstrations against controversial
speakers.
Numerous surveys have attempted to
ascertain whether anecdotes from
students and outside observers
regarding the silencing of unpopular
viewpoints on campus are indicative
of broader trends.
Findings
This report deals with seven such Each survey found a significant
surveys, which have been assessed number of students—between 43%
both for their findings and and 80%—who expressed at least an
methodological rigor. The focus of occasional unwillingness to share
Liberal each varies significantly, but there their views due to campus climate.
are substantial commonalities among
their findings, indicating that further Common reasons for this reluctance
66%
research in this area may be were fear of criticism by both peers
warranted. and professors, and concern over
49%
grades (see Figure 1).

UNC Chapel
Hill
54% 32.1% 75.9% Six of the seven surveys found that
Republican/conservative students
Heterodox
38.2% 26.7% 41.8% were more likely to feel reluctant to
Academy
speak than their Democratic/liberal
Knight counterparts (see Table 1).
38% - -
Foundation

McLaughlin &
46.5% 36.5% 46% Conclusions
Associates
Perceptions of a closed campus
Gallup 46% 38% 45%
environment do not seem to be
anecdotal. The relationship
between political ideology and
Table 1. % of students who report being Figure 1. Reported reasons for student views of campus climate appears
comfortable sharing their views on reluctance to express views on a
campus. to be quite robust and may merit
controversial topic (Heterodox Academy).
References further study.

DeVoe L. Moore Center at

Florida State University