Free speech incidents rise on college campuses

(The Center Square) – Two hundred seventy-four incidents involving interference to free speech have taken place so far on college campuses in 2025, according to FIRE data, an increase from 2020’s high of 252 – with a free speech advocate stating college presidents have the ability to better protect the First Amendment rights of students and faculty in higher education. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s (FIRE) director of research Ryne Weiss told The Center Square that “there is a lot that universities can do” to uphold constitutionally protected speech again. FIRE is an organization dedicated to defending the right to free speech. Weiss told The Center Square: “Our president Greg Lukianoff has a list of five ways college presidents can immediately improve their environments for free speech.” “Ending restrictive speech codes and ceasing punishments of students for protected speech are the bare minimum,” Weiss said. “Colleges should commit to the speech protective Chi