Since the October 7th attacks in 2023, universities and college campuses have become front facing symbols for intolerance, illiberalism, and ideological echo chambers. Many colleges have expressed genuine concern about their ability to foster open-minded conversations and rebuild a sense of safety to express ideas constructively. However, higher education is not as far away as we think it might be from establishing pluralism and constructive dialogue as the dominant norms on campus.
This view may cut across the mainstream narratives about higher education, and that is because we are missing an important dynamic. Many surveys have shown that there is in fact strong demand for dialogue and pluralism amongst the relevant stakeholder groups on any given college campus. According to More In Common and CDI’s report on Free Speech and Inclusion, “94% of students agree that we should listen with an open mind” and “90% agree that no matter how different we are, we can understand each other’s experiences by listening and empathizing”. Faculty feel similarly- according to FIRE’s report on academic freedom, roughly 61% of faculty surveyed said that, “a university professor should be free to express any of their ideas or convictions on any subject.” In fact, even 86% of employers that hire regularly on college campuses believe that exposure to diverse viewpoints is an important contributor towards preparing students for the workforce.
So if there is so much demand for pluralism on campus, why is pluralism not flourishing on college campuses? The answer lies in accurately diagnosing the nuances of the obstacles to pluralism on college campuses. While many posit polarization and division as challenges, the fact is that there have always been diverse viewpoints on campus, and within broader American society. In fact, disagreement is the engine of democracy, and we should cherish differences in opinion. Instead, the obstacle to pluralism flourishing on college campuses is a culture of fear that permeates every level of the university from college presidents to faculty to students.
While a lot of data generally indicates support for pluralism and tolerance, many students will follow up their support for constructive dialogue with a fear of sharing their opinions publicly or even in class. One recent study shows that 55% of conservative students and 49% of liberal students “always or often refrain from sharing opinions on social or political issues.” When asked why this tendency to self-censor exists, students from across the ideological spectrum will cite losing the respect of their friends, peers, and classmates as the primary concern.
Interestingly enough, the data strongly mirrors my anecdotal experience building BridgeUSA on college campuses and high schools. Most students and faculty we meet will express a strong demand for open-minded conversations. However, this receptiveness to dialogue is immediately complimented by a fear of “walking on eggshells” and a genuine uncertainty about how they might be judged.
The reality is that while a majority of students and faculty on campus believe in pluralism, there is a loud and vocal minority that has captured the microphone and established intolerance as the norm. The key to building a culture of pluralism on campuses across the United States requires smashing this culture of fear. And this will be achieved through elevating the silent and ideologically diverse majority on campus who are desperately searching for an alternative.
As an example, take BridgeUSA’s experience at Columbia this Fall. BridgeUSA student leaders were prepared to host a constructive dialogue on the Israel-Palestine conflict in September- importantly, this demand came by and from the students. Unfortunately, the event had to be canceled two days in advance because faculty expressed fear of boycotts and a belief that the dialogue would be hijacked. Recognizing this culture of fear, our students persisted and reorganized the event for November 21. We wanted to prove a point: conversations, on even the most existential topics, are not only possible but in high demand.
The students ran out of chairs at the event, the dialogue was very insightful, and many students echoed a similar takeaway, “We did not think it was possible, and we hope to see more.” In fact, the BridgeUSA chapter at George Washington had a very similar experience with their Israel-Palestine conversation. More importantly, these spotlights of hope are not isolated to one or two campuses, but they reflect a broader trend. BridgeUSA student leaders have engaged more students this Fall in constructive dialogue events than they did in the entire 2023-2024 academic year. Similarly, this demand for pluralism and spaces of conversation is being felt across many organizations such as Interfaith America, Constructive Dialogue Institute, Heterodox Academy, and Braver Angels.
Undermining the culture of fear and paving the way for pluralism to flourish requires meeting this demand. The silent majority of students, faculty, and administrators must cross the rubicon and do it over and over again. By proving the possibility of pluralism when the loudest voices deem it impossible, college campuses can begin to turn the tide and give a voice to the surging yet hidden demand for ideological diversity, constructive dialogue, and a willingness to engage different viewpoints.
Institutional alignment in prioritizing pluralism at every level of the college campus will enable a significant norms shift. Students should host conversations outside the classroom and rally their peers in support of pluralism. Faculty and administration should undertake aggressive social norming campaigns that highlight the fact that students want to discuss controversial topics and that fears of shunning and shaming are overblown. Additional interventions in curriculum and within college admissions will incentivize greater adoption of pluralism. And most importantly, stories of success must be told. It will not be sufficient to simply have a productive dialogue on a difficult topic. In order to shift norms, new narratives must be crafted that clearly reveal the promise, possibility, and demand for an alternative to intolerance and ideological rigidity.
It’s important that people understand they are not alone in their call for greater tolerance, constructive dialogue, and pluralism on campus, and within broader society. By understanding the dynamic of fear propagated by a few loud voices and demonstrating what is possible, universities have the opportunity to shift the very norms that have dominated campus life and lay the groundwork for broader societal change. It’s time to give voice to a new way on campus.