Overview
- The national poll, fielded Oct. 3–31 among 2,028 undergraduates with a 204-student oversample at Utah Valley University, reports 91% agree with the statement that words can be violence.
- Following the Sept. 10 shooting, about half of students say they are less comfortable attending or hosting controversial events on campus and roughly one in five say they are less comfortable attending class.
- Roughly 32% of students endorse some use of violence to stop a campus speech, including 26% supporting projectiles, 22% chemical irritants, and 20% physical assault on a speaker.
- Moderate and conservative students became less accepting of shouting down, blocking entry, or using violence to stop speakers, while liberal students’ support for such tactics held steady or rose slightly.
- UVU students reported stronger concern than peers about the direction of free expression, with 84% saying the country is headed the wrong way on people’s ability to speak freely.