Harvard University has once again been ranked as the worst school in the country for free speech, according to a report from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). The Cambridge campus received the lowest score possible of 0.00, earning it an “Abysmal” speech climate designation. The university has faced a number of controversies and speech-related issues, resulting in its low ranking for the second year in a row.
Other schools in the bottom five include Columbia University, New York University, University of Pennsylvania, and Barnard College. These schools have also experienced censorship and suppression of speech on their campuses.
In Massachusetts, Worcester Polytechnic Institute had the highest ranking among local schools, coming in 46th overall. UMass Amherst, Amherst College, Wellesley College, and Williams College all had slightly below-average scores. Boston University, MIT, Northeastern University, Smith College, Tufts University, Boston College, Mount Holyoke College, Clark University, and Brandeis University were also ranked below average.
Harvard University ranked last overall, with a 0.00 abysmal rating. The free speech nonprofit surveyed over 58,000 student respondents from more than 250 colleges and universities to compile the rankings. The report notes that students at the bottom five schools are more willing to allow controversial liberal speakers on campus than controversial conservative speakers.
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