Students Don’t Want Political Statements From Administrators

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | May 15, 2025 | Ashlynn Warta

[karpov]

Over the last several years, we have seen many colleges and universities make aggrieved statements in response to current events, from the election of President Trump to the death of George Floyd. The social implication is that if a school doesn’t speak out on an event, it is agreeing by omission. Many argue, however, that when colleges get involved in political issues, it only makes the political divide on campus grow larger. In fact, a recent survey from Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab found that the majority of students don’t want colleges to make statements about political events at all.

In December 2024, IHE and Generation Lab polled over 1,000 students from nearly 200 two- and four-year institutions on various speech-related topics, such as the climate for civil dialogue and free speech on campus. Other questions concerned who students feel is most to blame for escalating tensions regarding free speech and whether colleges and universities should make statements about political events. The findings conclude that students want (by varying but persuasive percentages) to see the promotion of constructive dialogue on college campuses. Yet they don’t (54 percent) want administrators to weigh in every time the nation conducts an election or police violence captures the public eye.

Immediately following the 2024 election, a separate Student Voice survey found that “a majority (63 percent) of student respondents (n=1,031) said their college did not do or say anything after the election, and only 17 percent [of colleges] released a statement to students about the election.” This is a starkly different outcome than the 2016 election produced, when classes were being canceled due to faculty and student grief.

[bgill]

Back in the day, only 1 of my profs said anything close to political. The history prof said America wasn’t a melting pot but a tossed salad. I never much cared for him but that is more true today than ever.

Imagine everyone’s surprise during Thanksgiving break when I ended up right behind him and a female classmate in the grocery line in my hometown.

[monkeyshine]

I imagine by this point the administrators don’t want to hear political statements from the ignorant, inexperienced students, either.

[monkeyshine]

I had a polysci professor. White chick with a perm who wore a dashiki and concha beads. I dropped that class.

[ViLaLuz]

Was she Rachel Dolezal?

[millenial4freedom]

the administrators are far more politically radical than their students...