In this thought-provoking episode of Future U., we sit down with Greg Lukianoff, president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and co-author of the bestselling book "The Coddling of the American Mind," as well as the new book, "The Canceling of the American Mind." Lukianoff shares his insights on the state of free speech on college campuses and examines the rise of cancel culture, the debate over the limits of free expression, and the potential double standards in how universities approach these issues. He argues that certain campus trends, such as "safetyism" and the suppression of viewpoint diversity, may be harming student mental health and resilience. He emphasizes the importance of open inquiry, intellectual diversity, and the ability to challenge prevailing orthodoxies as essential components of a thriving university education. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Key Moments
(0:00) - Intro
(3:53) - Free speech issues in higher education, particularly anti-Semitism and double standards
(8:30) - Free speech and academic freedom in higher education
(14:21) - Limitations of free speech on campus viewpoint diversity, and campus violence
(17:41) - Mental Health and Technology
(24:17) - Free Speech Challenges in Higher Ed
(30:39) - Free speech impacts admissions
