The Trend Towards Political Neutrality at Colleges is Real

The Trend Towards Political Neutrality at Colleges is Real

As we have noted over the last few months, more and more schools are adopting a neutral position on politics. Much of this is being driven by the behavior of the radical left.

Politico reports:

Colleges rethink their political voice

A simple policy to ward off another disruptive season of campus protests is splintering the higher education community and forcing colleges to weigh their traditional role as beacons of free speech.

More than a dozen universities are banning official stances on politics a year after Hamas’ attack on Israel spiraled into an international crisis and felled several university presidents in its wake. The schools argue they put their students’ rights at risk when institutions take sides on major issues. A competing contingent of colleges insists they have an obligation to speak out against societal wrongs.

The debate represents a shift in the way colleges engage with a quintessential aspect of higher education: the free flow of ideas.

“The problem with universities taking official positions is that they lay down a party line,” said Daniel Diermeier, the chancellor of Vanderbilt University, which embraces official neutrality. “It creates a chilling effect.”

The University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin and University of Southern California recently joined schools like Harvard and Stanford in adopting the policy. At least 14 other colleges also embraced neutrality rules since last year’s Oct. 7 attacks, the majority since May. The policies vary slightly but generally state that the institution can’t take a stance on political and social issues, and university leaders shouldn’t give an opinion on its behalf.

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