Legislators Shift Tactics to Censor Higher Education in 2023
- Legislative efforts to limit academic freedom and censor campus speech are evolving into more subtle tactics.
- PEN America's report highlights the rise of informal censorship methods, such as pressure on university leaders, without formal legislation.
- The future of academic freedom is at risk as lawmakers increasingly disguise censorship under the guise of promoting fairness and neutrality.
In the United States, PEN America has released a report detailing the evolving tactics of lawmakers aiming to censor higher education. The report, titled 'America’s Censored Classrooms 2024,' indicates that censorship efforts are shifting from overt gag orders to more stealthy approaches that obscure their true intent. This change is particularly concerning as it poses new threats to academic freedom and free speech on college campuses nationwide. The report outlines how, in response to public backlash and legal challenges against straightforward bans on certain expressions, proponents of censorship are adopting more camouflaged strategies. These include calls for 'institutional neutrality' and curricular changes that undermine academic structures. Additionally, informal pressure tactics, or 'jawboning,' have emerged, where lawmakers exert influence on university presidents to impose restrictions without passing formal legislation. The analysis highlights that five out of eight recent gag orders have become law, targeting both higher education and K-12 schools. These measures aim to erode protections for academic freedom, such as tenure and diversity programs. The report emphasizes that this coordinated assault on free expression is increasingly difficult to combat due to its disguised nature. Looking ahead, PEN America warns that educational censorship is likely to escalate further into 2025, with lawmakers continuing to refine their strategies to impose ideological control over educational institutions while avoiding direct confrontation.