Furman Free Speech Round-Up (November)
For Paladins and Friends
Welcome to our November newsletter.
The Furman Free Speech Alliance is a rapidly growing group of alumni, parents, and friends concerned about Furman University’s deteriorating campus climate for free speech, academic freedom, and viewpoint diversity.
Each month, we update you on what’s happening at Furman and what actions we’re taking to defend free speech on campus.
Looking Back:
We were proud to make our first annual appearance at Furman’s Homecoming tailgate this past month. It was incredible to meet some of you (our readers) as well as many other Furman alumni who weren’t familiar with us. It was the culmination of much of our work to date, but it also showed us how many more people we still can connect with.
Of course, watching our Paladins get smoked by the Western Carolina Catamounts wasn't fun, but it is a rebuilding year. Much more exciting, Furman basketball starts its season tonight against the Columbia International Rams. Under coach Bob Richey’s leadership, it should be a good year for the Dins. And next year, we look forward to visiting the new and improved Timmons Arena.
Thanks again to those of you who came by and visited with us at Homecoming. We look forward to seeing you again next year.
One Stat You Should Know:
At Furman, 27% of Democratic students said using violence to prevent someone from speaking is always or sometimes acceptable, compared to
6% among Republicans.
Looking Ahead:
Election day is tomorrow, which means many members of our Furman community will get to vote. The last time we had a presidential election, in 2020, Furman was ranked second in the country for the “most politically active students.” That ranking is partly due to the work of Dins Vote — a campus organization that helps boost student voter turnout. But while Furman students may be “politically active,” it is worth remembering that in recent years, this political activism can verge into censoring other students.
In 2023, an ACTA survey showed that 40% of Republicans feel the need to censor themselves on Furman’s campus, compared to just 6% of Democrats. Likewise, 39% of Republicans think that they are being socially excluded for sharing their political views, compared to just 20% of Democrats. Worst of all, 12% of Republicans report being threatened or harassed for attending events on campus, compared to just 1% of Democrats.
These should be sobering stats for Furman. If they want to boast about their free speech bona fides and how politically active their students are, the administration should make it a top priority to make the university a better environment for these suffering students. Especially as the Furman community goes to vote on Tuesday and our whole country deals with the potential fallout from this election, it is more important than ever for Furman’s administration to defend free speech.
In the Network:
Our friends at Duke are petitioning the university to adopt an official policy of institutional neutrality and implement additional freedom of speech safeguards. So far, 114 faculty members have already signed on.