September 20, 2023
Culture Wars
More in Common, in partnership with the Constructive Dialogue Institute, analyzes how college students’ political ideology, race, and gender relate to their experiences with free speech and inclusion on campus.
Polling Firm: Qualtrics
Sample Size: n=2,618 US College Students
Fieldwork Dates: March 27-May 18, 2023
Margin of Error: +/- 2.0 for US college student avg.
Co-authored by the Constructive Dialogue Institute and More in Common, this report brings data to inform the public conversation about the current state of free expression and inclusion on college campuses. Using a nationally representative sample of 2,618 college students, we assess whether norms of discourse skew toward liberal values, explore how students across the political spectrum experience their campus dialogue culture, and identify core values that drive conflict surrounding speech.
The data in this report paints a vivid picture where neither freedom of expression nor inclusion is thriving on college campuses across the United States, and the fight over which to prioritize is hindering learning environments desperately in need of both. However, students across all ideologies expressed a value for dialogue, making it evident that there is hope and a path forward for institutional leaders. The recommendations closing the report lay out what a strategic plan toward change could look like for higher education institutions.
“College classes are a place for students to feel uncomfortable and grapple with difficult concepts in the world. Students need the opportunity to correct one another and have hard and sometimes offensive conversations with one another.”
– Natalie, a conservative and senior at a private school on the West Coast
“[Cancel culture] is just a shift in general culture. Ideas that were once deemed as normal are simply now being confronted and questioned.”
— Eduardo, a liberal and freshman at a public community college on the West Coast
Explore the depth of our research at your fingertips. Get the complete insights by downloading the full report today.
What unites and divides Americans today? This newsletter takes a closer look at issues pressing on America’s social and political fabric and provides recommendations for how to strengthen ties to keep us bound together.
