U.S. universities increasingly punish students over political speech, new report reveals
According to a report published by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and covered by The Guardian, U.S. universities have disciplined more than 1,000 students or student groups between 2020 and 2024 for constitutionally protected speech. The findings highlight a growing trend among higher education institutions to investigate or penalize students for expressive activities, especially during politically sensitive periods.
The report documented that about 63% of those investigated were ultimately punished. Disciplinary actions included formal censure, suspensions, and institutional separation or defunding. More than 300 students or groups were censored, 72 suspended, and 55 separated from their institutions. The data, drawn from publicly available sources, suggests 2025 may see a record number of such punishments, with incidents in the first four months already outpacing last year’s total.
Universities’ disciplinary actions have intensified during times of political unrest. After the 2020 killing of George Floyd, most punishments were directed at students expressing views on race, often prompted by peer complaints. Since late 2023, however, FIRE found a shift in disciplinary focus to pro-Palestinian speech, with calls for punishment increasingly driven by administrators and political figures.
One university, for instance, issued multi-year suspensions to students participating in a peaceful protest despite internal committees recommending minor consequences. Critics argue these actions reflect growing external pressure on schools and signal a dangerous erosion of free speech protections on campus.
FIRE’s report excludes incidents related to the wave of pro-Palestinian encampments on campuses in 2024, where more than 3,200 arrests were made. These cases may fall under “time, place, and manner” exceptions to First Amendment protections, particularly if they involved legal violations. However, some universities reportedly used vague or unpublished policies to justify harsh penalties.
Advocacy groups warn these disciplinary trends could set precedents for broader censorship. Palestine Legal, which supports pro-Palestinian advocacy, reported a 600% increase in campus-related requests for legal help from 2022 to 2024.
FIRE and other free speech advocates urge universities to uphold constitutional rights and resist political pressure, emphasizing that open debate—not punishment—should guide academic environments.
