New Books in Higher Education The Price of Free Speech: Politics and Power on Campus
May 16, 2025
Tyler Coward, lead counsel for government affairs at FIRE, dives into the contentious landscape of free speech on campuses. He highlights the impact of government funding on academic freedom and explores conflicts like the Trump-Harvard clashes. Discussions also cover the self-censorship faced by conservative students and the implications of recent Supreme Court rulings. The conversation extends internationally, addressing how UK universities navigate financial pressures from foreign students and funding, raising important questions about research integrity and institutional independence.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Free Speech vs Anti-Semitism Claims
- The Trump administration investigated universities like Harvard and Columbia over alleged anti-Semitism and failure to respond properly to unlawful conduct.
- Conflating protected political speech with anti-Semitism threatens free expression, especially criticisms of Israel.
Liberal Monoculture on Campuses
- American universities exhibit a strong liberal ideological monoculture, with very few conservative faculty members.
- Conservative students often self-censor due to fear of social sanctions and administrative repercussions on campuses.
Harvard’s Defiant Stand Matters
- Harvard’s refusal to comply with government demands was vital to prevent a domino effect threatening smaller institutions.
- Harvard's large endowment empowered it to defend its rights against political pressure.