By Bobbie Laur, President, Campus Compact
Both in and out of the classroom, students are learning by doing. Students who are engaged in their communities and in our democracy are building the skills they need to lead with purpose, strengthen our society, and create positive change for us all. But building these skills can only happen when they have the freedom to ask questions, test ideas, organize collectively, and speak without fear of retaliation. This is why threats to academic freedom are threats to us all—they threaten the future we wish to create.
PEN America’s report, “Expanding the Web of Control,” illustrates just how widespread these threats have become. According to the report, over 50% of college students across the country are impacted by at least one law or policy that restricts what can be taught on campus or how their institution operates.
Students already see this clearly. They are uncertain about what can be discussed in classrooms, how student organizations are supported or scrutinized, and the ways institutions treat civic participation, including journalism, organizing, and protest. What’s most striking is that students are not only naming these constraints; they are also making explicit connections between academic freedom and democratic participation.
Our responsibility is to ensure that higher education remains a place where students learn how to engage in public life with courage, care, and critical insight. In today’s environment, we run the risk of students retreating from engagement. When participation feels risky, silence can begin to feel like the safest choice.
We must lead by example and show students where their voice is powerful and necessary in addressing these threats. Below, you’ll find tools, research, and opportunities for further discussion that offer a starting point for that critical work.
Student voices on academic freedom
Abhilasha Ghosh
“As a student, academic freedom isn't just a policy—it’s the oxygen of our education. I’ve advocated for open dialogue on my campus because true learning only happens when we are free to challenge ideas and be challenged in return. To college leaders: student voices are not just something to be managed, but something to be protected. We need spaces where dissent is respected and curiosity is never penalized.”
Emerson Reese Morris
“As a student, academic freedom and free speech go hand-in-hand. Pursuing a degree in the modern age means actively speaking my mind and working toward meaningful civic discourse. When communication ends, violence will ensue, and as student leaders, we must do everything in our power to ensure this does not occur and our humanity is upheld. Effective communication allows for a flourishing society for years to come.”
Angela Medina
“As a Newman leader, I really value academic freedom and free speech. Talking about my own experiences in the education system has made me realize how important it is to ask questions, learn, and take part in discussions without feeling unsafe. I hope college leaders create places where everyone can share ideas openly, because protecting these freedoms is what makes campuses truly inclusive and global.”
Kaylei Voorhies
“The fight to restore our student newspaper was about more than the tradition of its publication; it was about whether students are allowed to participate meaningfully in democracy on campus. Academic freedom and free speech are how students learn to question power, engage responsibly, and contribute to public life. I want college leaders to understand that when they support student expression, they are investing in the next generation of civic leaders.”
Janjay Green
“As a student in Texas, academic freedom and freedom of speech are qualities that have transformed from rights into privileges overnight. Registering students to vote in and out of the classroom has never been harder, yet is something that is still so important to students like myself. Challenges like this have never been new in election codes and state laws, but they are certainly more present than before the current administration. While student leaders like myself try to fight back against the minimization of our rights, I hope college leaders across the country continue to stand up for their students and support them unwaveringly.”
Get involved: Be a part of a thriving democracy
Get involved: address issues of academic freedom
Find tools and resources to help you address challenges to academic freedom and educational censorship on your campus
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Check out the “Expanding the Web of Control: America’s Censored Campuses 2025” report from PEN America. In this report, PEN America examines state and federal threats to academic freedom in higher education, dives into the history behind them, and shares information about what we might expect in the coming year.
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Access the Scholars at Risk Network’s 2025 “Free to Think” report to explore concerning trends in attacks on higher education communities around the world and find ways to take action.
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Revisit content from the recent Conference on Academic Freedom, which was hosted by The University of Arizona’s Center for the Philosophy of Freedom. The conference brought together faculty with diverse perspectives from across the country to explore the scope of academic freedom, how it relates to our democratic ideals, and what responsibilities universities have to their communities.
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Don’t miss related breakout sessions at Campus Compact’s Compact26 annual conference, including:
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Anchoring Free Expression Education on Campus - Aileen Favill & Nicholas Perez, PEN America
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Navigating Restrictive Campus Speech Policies to Support Voter Engagement - Abraham Goldberg, James Madison University & Emma Llewellyn, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Stirring the Pot: Small Conversations, Big Impact - Leanne Soter, University of Nevada - Las Vegas
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The Right to Read: Humanities Research towards Advocacy and Change - Meredith Kelling, Washington University in St Louis
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Revisit the Compact25 plenary session, “The Role of Higher Education in an Inclusive Democracy,” to hear from a panel of experts about higher education’s responsibility to our democracy and how we can respond, despite growing polarization and threats to academic freedom.
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