Ministers have warned that students are showing “shocking growth in support for censorship” after a poll revealed that many favored security and avoided discrimination over unrestricted freedom of expression.
The Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) survey found that current students are more likely to support measures that limit freedom of expression or expression on campus, and approve the removal of materials and offensive monuments, compared to their predecessors six years ago, when the survey was recently conducted.
Nick Hillman, director of Hepi, said the survey showed “a very clear pattern” of most students preferring interventions such as course content activation warnings and restrictions on speakers.
“In 2016 we found considerable ambivalence and confusion about the issues of freedom of expression. It is now clear that most students want more restrictions imposed than they were used to … in the past, “Hillman said.
“This may be primarily out of compassion, with the goal of protecting other students, but it could also reflect a lack of resilience among a cohort that has faced unprecedented challenges.”
But Michelle Donelan, England’s higher education minister, said the report “shows a shocking growth in support for censorship across a wide range of indicators”. “University leaders can no longer afford to be sidelined, but must take active steps to combat these intolerant attitudes on campus, both by promoting and protecting freedom of expression,” he said.
“We cannot allow our young people, the future of this great country, to feel that their freedom of expression is being stifled and that they must give in to the majority views on campus.”
Of the 1,000 students surveyed, 61% said they wanted to “ensure that all students are protected from discrimination instead of allowing unlimited freedom of expression,” compared to 37% in 2016. Only 17% of students supported “guaranteeing unlimited freedom of expression on campus.” although the infringement may occasionally be allowed ”- less than 27% accepted in 2016.
The results also revealed that many students felt that universities “were becoming less tolerant with a wide range of views,” with 38% agreeing and 27% disagreeing. But there was a clear division between men and women, with 51% of men agreeing compared to 28% of women.
The use of activating warnings for uncomfortable course content seems to be very well received by the students themselves, with 86% agreeing that they should be used occasionally or always and only 14% oppose it. In 2016, 32% of students objected to its use.
Currently, many more students support religious or special interest groups that are consulted about events on campus – 64% compared to 40% in 2016 – while 77% agreed that staff should receive compulsory training in cultural awareness.
There was less but growing support for more direct restrictions, including 36% agreeing that academics should be fired for using material that “offers a lot” to students, more than double the 15% that went accept in 2016.
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A growing minority also supported removing Holocaust denial or racist literature from university libraries, even though more than a third of students wanted all the material left.
Only 20% said they supported the cancellation of events that were legal but upset some students. About a third supported the protests outside the event itself.
The poll showed little interest in banning campus political parties or organizations. Only 26% wanted to ban the English far-right Defense League, while 19% wanted to ban the British National Party and 12% wanted to ban the British Communist Party.
There was little support for banning major political parties, with 11% wanting a ban on Conservatives, 5% wanting a ban on Labor and 5% more wanting a ban on Liberal Democrats.