FIRE report ranks Northeastern and UConn low for free speech

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has released its annual report on the free speech climate at American colleges, with several institutions receiving low marks.

Northeastern University ranked near the bottom of the study, placing 258th out of 261 institutions with a score of 49.8, which constitutes a failing grade. While the university saw increases in political tolerance, the report noted decreases in administrative support and comfort regarding the expression of ideas.

The University of Connecticut also received a failing grade, scoring 57 out of 100. UConn ranked 195th out of 261 colleges, a move up 20 spots from the previous year. The study indicated that 36% of UConn students reported self-censoring on campus at least once or twice a month. A university spokesperson stated that UConn upholds free speech as a bedrock principle and noted that the FIRE survey represents less than 1% of the student enrollment.