Few Americans say conservatives can speak freely on college campuses, AP-NORC/UChicago poll shows

By COLLIN BINKLEY, JOCELYN GECKER and EMILY SWANSON
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — New polling finds that America’s college campuses are seen as far friendlier to liberals than to conservatives when it comes free speech. Polling from the University of Chicago and the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 47% of adult Americans say liberals are free to express their views on college campuses, while 20% said the same of conservatives. Free speech debates have roiled campuses in recent years, with conflicts arising over conservative guest speakers. Republican lawmakers in dozens of states have also proposed bills limiting public colleges from teaching topics considered divisive. The poll finds that 30% of Americans say states should be allowed to restrict what state universities teach.