Speech on Virginia Campuses Less Unfree than Elsewhere

by James A. BaconThree of Virginia's universities scored in the top 25 in the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) 2021 annual free speech rankings of more than 150 higher-ed institutions across America, but Virginia Tech, once in the top 10, fell precipitously to the bottom third.The College of William & Mary ranked 10th for free speech, George Mason University 12th, and the University of Virginia 22nd. Virginia Tech ranked 107th.The rankings are relative. W&M, GMU and UVa score well compared to other institutions. Nevertheless, a significant percentage of students at all three institutions express discomfort with discussing controversial ideas and question the commitment of their university administrations to support free speech. With free speech and free expression under attack everywhere, it can be argued that Virginia institutions are the least bad of a bad lot.Also, it is important to note that FIRE surveyed students, not faculty or staff. The findings do not reflect the disturbing trend at many higher-ed institutions -- including UVa and W&M -- of requiring job applicants and employees to submit written statements describing their commitment to the principles of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as part of their evaluations.With the exception of Virginia Tech, Virginians can take some small comfort that students at Virginia's public universities face less oppressive environments than elsewhere. The survey also provides a reminder of how far they have to descend should Virginia colleges choose to emulate the examples of bottom-ranking Marquette, Baylor, or DePauw universities.To get a sense of how bad the free-speech situation is overall, read UVa 4th-year student Emma Camp's op-ed piece in the New York Times describing the widespread ideological conformity and self-censorship at Virginia's flagship university. If UVa ranks 22nd in the nation for free speech, one can only imagine how repressive other institutions are.Internal pressures are pushing Virginia's universities relentlessly to the left. In terms of ideology and partisan affiliation, faculty and staff are far more "progressive" than the general population -- and becoming more intensely so, with all that portends for intolerance and cancel culture. The only thing that can stop this drift is countervailing pressure from alumni, parents, government officials, and faculty members brave enough to speak out against campus excesses.Below I have compiled snapshots of Virginia's four universities, along with links to their FIRE profiles.

James Bacon

After a 25-year career in Virginia journalism, James A. Bacon founded Bacon’s Rebellion in 2002 a blog with the goal of “Reinventing Virginia for the 21st Century.” Its focus is on building more prosperous, livable and sustainable communities. In recent years he has concentrated more on the spread of “woke” ideology in K-12 schools, the criminal justice system, higher education, and medicine.

In 2021, he co-founded The Jefferson Council to preserve free speech, intellectual diversity, and the Jeffersonian legacy at his alma mater the University of Virginia. He previously served as the organization’s executive director, now serving as congributing editor.

Aside from blogging, Bacon writes books. His first was Boomergeddon: How Runaway Deficits Will Bankrupt the Country and Ruin Retirement for Aging Baby Boomers — And What You Can Do About It, followed by Maverick Miner: How E. Morgan Massey Became a Coal Industry Legend and a work of science fiction, Dust Mites: the Siege of Airlock Three.

A Virginian through-and-through, Bacon lives in Richmond with his wife Laura.

https://www.baconsrebellion.com/wp/
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