For $60k, you too…
Can have your freedom of speech suppressed.
Columbia University, which has an annual tuition of $60k, was rated as the worst University in America when it comes to freedom of speech.
Yep. In an independent survey of over 200 Universities and over 45,000 students it was determined that Columbia was ranked the worst in the nation for freedom of speech on campus.
Can you imagine that environment? Can you imagine pursuing an Ivy League (oh so prestigious) education and, hopefully, a diploma for four years while being afraid to express your opinion without repercussion? Is this what higher education has become? Is this worth $60k per year?
Attending a University is supposed to allow students to express themselves and expand their minds. Once you are beyond the reading, writing, and arithmetic of high school, a University is where you are supposed to let your mind explore and expand. You’re supposed to pursue something deliberate and specific when you choose a major. You are supposed to be pushing yourself beyond your core classes and learn to think for yourself. You can only do that when you are allowed to ask questions, offer your opinion, listen to others, and debate the merits of your positions.
Clearly, that isn’t happening at Columbia.
If you’re ranked as THE WORST of 200 Universities, you can assume there is little discussion among the students. There are few questions being asked. There are limited opposing views being offered. Probably not much debate going on, either. If you’re THE WORST, you can also assume the suppression of free speech isn’t just coming from other students. The faculty and administration must be playing a role in this as well, right? Like students aren’t just afraid to speak up because of their peers, but also their instructors, right? Oh, excuse me, their professors. Yes, those that are proctoring this exclusive and highly expensive education play a role in the suppression of free speech as well. Either they are guilty of it themselves or they aren’t protecting those students who are offering opposing viewpoints in their classrooms. That means they are just as guilty or possibly more so.
But, why should we care? I mean if it isn’t your kid, or even you, attending Columbia, why should you give a crap if they are living in fear and getting a half-assed education? Who gives a shit if they are all just keeping their mouths shut and just rowing along? Row well and live, right? Why should you care?
Because this is the future of our country. This is supposed to be the next generation of thinkers. These are the “educated” that are supposed to lead our country in the future. They are supposed to run big businesses, make medical breakthroughs, and command the tech industry. But they won’t because what they are learning is to keep their mouth shut and go with the crowd. They are learning that if you step out of line, you will be attacked. If you step out of line, your friends will turn on you. If you step out of line, your professors will hold you down. What they are learning is FEAR.
That’s not what this country was built on. This is cancel culture at its finest. This is what happens when small societies (and that’s what a University is) become insular with no one being an honest broker. We are all seeing cancel culture expanding into our larger society. Columbia is potentially a snapshot of our future. Columbia is our crystal ball if we leave ourselves unchecked.
By the way, another reason you should care about what is happening at Columbia…19% of the undergraduate population receives Pell Grants. Those are Federal Dollars. YOUR dollars. And I am only going to touch on student loan forgiveness, but you can draw your own conclusions about how many students are using student loans when the tuition is $60k per year. Also your money thanks to the current administration.
Yes, your tax dollars are funding suppression of free speech.