IU and Purdue are at opposite ends of free speech rankings
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Indiana's two largest public universities sit near opposite ends of a national college free speech ranking.
Why it matters: Nearly half of Purdue students and more than half of IU students surveyed said they self-censor on campus at least once or twice a month.
By the numbers: The rankings found an average overall score of 61.36 — the highest recorded in seven years, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).
- That still amounts to a D- on the report's grading scale.
- 140 schools received passing grades, whereas 121 out of the 261 schools ranked in the report received an F for their free speech climate.
- Only 24 schools received a C or better.
Zoom in: Purdue University is among the best in the nation — seventh overall and third among public universities.
- It received a score of 77 and a C+ for speech climate.
- "Purdue's long-standing commitment to freedom of expression and the robust free speech culture it engenders is one of our greatest strengths and shared values," Purdue Provost Patrick Wolfe said in a statement.
- "Dialogue and debate are critical to scholarly inquiry, no less than to civic life, and a central responsibility of universities like ours in constitutional democracies is to protect and foster an environment that supports free, robust and uninhibited debate and exchange of ideas."
The other side: Indiana University was ranked 256th of the 261 schools included in the report.
- Its F grade was driven in part by six speech controversies in the past three years, including IU's cancellation of a Palestinian American painter's exhibit and its firing of the student media director after he resisted an administration directive limiting the student newspaper's coverage.
- It also received an F for administrative support — students' belief in the administration's support for free speech and willingness to uphold their rights in a controversy — and tolerance of controversial speakers.
- Students who defined themselves as very or somewhat conservative ranked IU's commitment to free speech highest.
- IU declined to comment on the rankings, but Indiana University Bloomington Chancellor David Reingold questioned the validity of FIRE's data in a meeting with students earlier this week.
How it works: FIRE defined self-censorship as refraining from sharing views because of fear of social, professional, legal or violent consequences.
- The topic students identified as the most difficult to discuss was the Israel-Palestine conflict, with 50% of students reluctant to broach it.
- Trump followed at 46%, and conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated a year ago, at 44%.
- Abortion ranked fourth at 43%. Immigration and transgender rights are tied at roughly 38%.
Zoom out: The University of Chicago tops the list for the third time in seven years, followed by Claremont McKenna College, Georgia Tech, Michigan Tech and Vanderbilt.
- New York University ranks last, behind the University of Washington, Texas State, Northeastern and Rutgers.
The big picture: The rankings come as President Trump increasingly tries to control what schools can teach, what diversity programs they can offer and which international students can attend American universities.
- The administration has also pushed schools to restrict protests that it describes as antisemitic, including by withholding federal funding and pursuing lawsuits and investigations against universities.
What they're saying: "President Trump will always protect the First Amendment rights of all Americans," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Axios in an emailed statement.