Survey Reveals Perspectives on Campus Violence

A recent survey by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) shows that 30% of college students believe using violence is a legitimate way to stop a controversial speaker at campus events. This study breaks down the data as follows: 3% find violence always acceptable, 12% sometimes acceptable, and 16% rarely acceptable for preventing a speaker from attending a campus event.

The survey comes on the heels of the tragic event in 2025 when Charlie Kirk was assassinated during a college event organized by Turning Point USA. This incident has evidently influenced perceptions of violence on campuses.

FIRE reports a slight decline from the previous year’s 34% of students who accepted violence as a form of protest. However, this year’s figure is an increase compared to data from four years ago. Notably, 70% of the students surveyed believe violence is never an acceptable method to oppose a speaker.

Shouting down speakers remains a prevalent belief among students, with 69% considering it acceptable, a slight decrease from last year but an increase over four years.

FIRE’s Data Analyst, Chapin Lenthall-Cleary, emphasized that while there’s a reduction in acceptance of violence, the threat of harm still affects free speech. The assassination of Charlie Kirk is posited as a possible turning point that led some students to reconsider violent responses.

In recent years, acceptance of violence among conservative and moderate students, particularly males, has risen sharply. The disparity between liberal and conservative students’ acceptance of violence appears to be narrowing.

Additionally, FIRE’s survey indicates the impact of Kirk’s assassination on free speech at Utah Valley University, both positively and negatively. Rankings from FIRE include evaluations of free speech across 262 colleges, highlighting the University of Chicago as the leader in supporting free expression.

The 2027 College Free Speech Rankings reveal the top institutions for free speech: the University of Chicago, Claremont McKenna College, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Michigan Technological University, and Vanderbilt University.