University students fear “formal consequences” for expressing opinions

Canadian university students are afraid to express their opinions, fearing formal repercussions, such as lower grades from professors, if their views go against the “safe” accepted stance on campus.

Source: Queens U

Many Canadian university students are afraid to express their opinions, fearing formal repercussions, such as lower grades from professors, if their views go against the “safe” accepted stance on campus.

The sentiment is more prominent among right-leaning students but is widely present regardless of political views.

According to a recent study conducted by the Fraser Institute, 37 per cent of self-described right-leaning students and 30 per cent of self-described left-leaning students share this fear.

“When students attend university, it is assumed that they will encounter a broad array of opinions, and that differing views will be discussed, contested and debated openly,” said Matthew D. Mitchell, senior fellow with the Fraser Institute and coauthor of the study.

“But that’s not happening at campuses across Canada, according to the students themselves.”

The institute commissioned Leger to conduct a survey asking students about their comfortability in discussing contentious issues on campus.

When asked if there was a “safe” political view on controversial topics discussed in university classes, 58% of right-leaning students and 51% of left-leaning students agreed there was.

Additionally, 37% of right-leaning students, 33% of centre-leaning students, and 30% of left-leaning students fear formal consequences—including lowered grades—for expressing honest views during class discussions.

This fear was highest among right-leaning students, with 74% saying they feared expressing the “wrong” viewpoint could result in a professor lowering their grades.

Similar results were found regarding students feeling constrained in their ability to ask questions, with 40% of right-leaning students and 35% of left-leaning students holding that view.

Those groups were far more reluctant to share “unconventional thoughts, or challenge current norms on controversial issues.”

“Students should never be afraid to ask tough questions, express their honest opinions or challenge conventional views in class,” said study co-author Michael Zwaagstra.

“Forty-two percent of right-leaning students said that they experienced a classroom environment at university that limited discussion and questions on controversial topics to only one side of the argument. In contrast, only 29 per cent of left-leaning students had this experience,” reads the study.

“Among students who say their professors advocate a view, eighty-three percent of right-leaning students feel their professors promoted a left viewpoint, while 45 per cent of left-leaning students feel the same way. Few students, left, centre, or right, believe their professors promote a right viewpoint.”

The study also found that university campuses are largely dominated by left-leaning students, with 55% self-identifying as such, compared to 15% who consider themselves right-leaning.

“These findings raise serious questions about the quality of university education Canadian students are receiving,” said Zwaagstra.