Peter MacKinnon: If students are self-censoring on campus, that’s a free speech problem

On the question whether there is a free speech issue, problem or crisis on our university campuses, there are two distinct views. Some in our universities say no; the issue is either imaginary or vastly overblown; others differ, expressing concern that it is real and substantial. We do not have to leave the matter in the realm of speculation; we can ask those most directly affected: the students.

That is what the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy did. It surveyed 1,174 students from 34 Canadian universities in 2024 and 2025, receiving full responses from 760; others answered some questions only (respondents were not required to answer all of the questions). They were asked to indicate their comfort or reluctance in expressing their views on five potentially controversial areas: politics, religion, race, gender and sexual orientation.

On politics the respondents were almost evenly divided: half were comfortable expressing their views; half were not. On religion, 40 per cent were reluctant to disclose their opinions on matters of faith or religion, the same percentage as for race. On gender and sexuality, about 43 per cent were reluctant to express themselves.

The survey is also informative on matters of detail. It found that students of conservative disposition were more reluctant than others to express opinions on political matters; Jewish students were more likely than their non-Jewish colleagues to have experienced mistreatment on campus and were unwilling to speak out on matters of religion; on controversial racial issues students were generally very reluctant to discuss their views; and a majority of heterosexual students were unwilling to express opinions on sexuality.

Underlying the reluctance to speak up is fear of consequences. Formal complaints or abuse from other students, negative social media commentary, professors finding some views to be offensive resulting in lower grades — these fears were all expressed by students participating in the survey. They were aware that tolerance for differences of opinion is in decline in our universities and other public settings.

Denialists should pay attention. The evidence indicates that the free speech that is essential to the university mission has been diminished on our campuses. The reasons for this are debatable, but debate cannot take place when one side denies that there is an issue. As a new university year begins, it is incumbent on everyone in these vital institutions to ask and answer the question: how do we restore and safeguard free speech on campus?