‘Free speech matters’: FIRE Campus Scholar brings symposium to University of Washington

Cole Daigneault is a student at the University of Washington and a FIRE Campus Scholar.

What greater purpose can a university serve than fostering civil discourse, generating new ideas, and expanding human knowledge? America’s institutions of higher learning — particularly those that are public — are at their best when these goals are encouraged, celebrated, and protected. At the University of Washington, though, these goals have been flipped on their head.

UW is the lowest-ranked public university in the United States for free speech, according to FIRE’s 2022-2023 College Free Speech Rankings database. Of 203 schools assessed, UW places 188th; all lower-ranked colleges and universities are private institutions.

The survey data from FIRE’s rankings paint a grim picture: Only 43% of students say they have rarely or never self-censored on campus. Only 37% of students say they are not worried about damaging their reputation because someone misunderstands something they have said or done. Perhaps most shockingly, only 31% of students say shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus is never acceptable.

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

School Ranking

226 of 251

Speech Code

Red

Free Speech Climate

Overall score: 34

More Info

These numbers reflect a profoundly negative culture of free speech on the UW campus. It was the realization of this fact that inspired a group of dedicated students and I to establish Huskies for Liberty, a registered student organization at UW with the mission of promoting the values of free speech and individual liberty on campus and beyond.

We knew from the start that we had our work cut out for us. From the very first day that our club began promoting free speech on campus, we faced heavy resistance. The half-life of the average HFL flier on campus bulletin boards and telephone poles was about one day. But thanks to FIRE’s Campus Scholars Program, I was able to elevate our efforts to the next level.

As a Campus Scholar, I had the opportunity to create “Free Speech Matters,” UW’s first student-led mini-conference on free speech, civil discourse, and academic freedom. My goal with this project was to invite students and members of the local community to hear from free speech experts, faculty, and other students about the importance of protecting free speech on campus. I aimed to engage attendees in critical conversations about our responsibilities to respect the free speech rights of others, even of those with whom we may profoundly disagree.

HFL student members and I quickly got to work organizing the event. Over a period of several months, we negotiated event space rentals, invited guest speakers, and created promotional materials for the event.

We encountered numerous challenges organizing the event, ranging from hurdles such as satisfying food permit requirements for the event’s catering; to juggling scheduling constraints; and to hesitancy from the student body.

Fortunately, we leapt these hurdles and ultimately proceeded with our plans.

The “Free Speech Matters” conference was held on May 12 in Kane Hall, right in the heart of the UW campus. The event featured a keynote address from FIRE Director of Public Advocacy Aaron Terr, discussion activities led by FIRE Program Officer Margaux Granath, and a panel consisting of Aaron, local journalist and podcaster Katie Herzog, and UW professor Pedro Domingos. The event concluded with a short presentation on HFL’s mission conducted by myself.

The atmosphere inside the conference space was so different from what I had grown accustomed to on campus. During the panel and discussion periods, it was clear that not everyone in the room shared ideas or values. But those areas of disagreement became gateways of insight and understanding rather than walls of conflict and resentment. It was a breath of fresh air, and it made for a very enjoyable and entertaining experience. 

In total, the event drew 120 attendees from the student body, UW faculty and staff, and the wider Seattle community. Among the non-student attendees were a significant number of UW alumni.

I am thankful to my student team, invited guests, Aaron, Margaux, and everyone at FIRE for setting admirable examples of respect and dedication, and I look forward to continuing the fight to reshape campus culture at UW for the better.