FIRE published its list of the 10 worst colleges for free speech in 2017. It based its rankings on speech codes adopted by each college. Heading the list are academic strongholds, Harvard, Williams and Georgetown. Also included on the list are Northern Michigan, Cal State Los Angeles, Fordham, Oregon, Cal State Long Beach, South Carolina and DePaul. FIRE President Greg Lukianoff said that “censorship is not only unhealthy for institutions where debate and discussion should be paramount, but also dangerous for a free society.” (The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, February 22, 2017)
In an article in The Huffington Post, February 22, 2017, Lukianoff said since 2012 the number of schools with the most restrictive speech codes has declined. But 92 percent of schools adopted speech codes that could be used to stifle speech. Students have to observe free speech zones, worry about inviting controversial speakers and watch their language less they be accused of hate speech.