As the academic year begins, universities across the country are preparing for more protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict. While students are returning to campuses, the underlying issues that sparked these demonstrations – misunderstanding and misapplication of free speech – remain unresolved. These protests have revealed an urgent challenge for universities: upholding the principles of free speech amid modern political activism.

While many protests last semester were peaceful, Miscellaneous have disrupted campus operations, led to clashes and vandalism, and created a feeling of insecurity on campus among some students. Actions some students, coupled with the Reactions of some administrators indicate a disturbing lack of understanding of free speech principles. Maintaining a campus environment that encourages the contestation of ideas, allows for dissent, and facilitates scientific discovery requires an unwavering commitment to free speech principles from administrators and students.

The latest Opinion poll of college students across the country contains important insights into the state of free speech on campus. A heartening 89 percent of respondents say students have the right to participate in peaceful protests related to the war between Israel and Hamas. However, many students confuse free speech with illiberal actions that undermine it. About 40 percent of students support occupying buildings or conducting “die-ins” to prevent normal campus activities, 27 percent believe students have the right to disrupt classes in protest, and 20 percent think it’s OK to shout down a campus speaker who comments on the war between Israel and Hamas. While these actions may be viewed as forms of protest, they hinder the free exchange of ideas and limit the ability of others to express their views.

This misconception is most pronounced among students who identify as politically liberal, who are the most likely to say they support free speech related to the Israel-Hamas war (93 percent of respondents do so). However, politically liberal students also show the greatest acceptance of actions against free speech. Of these students, 55 percent think it is OK to disrupt campus by occupying buildings, 37 percent think it is OK to disrupt classes by protesting, 26 percent think it is acceptable to shout down a speaker, and 18 percent say it is OK to deny a speaker entry to a lecture hall where a speech about the Israel-Hamas war is scheduled.

Not only are many students unclear about what free speech means, but they also seem hypocritical in supporting free speech on some issues but not others. The obvious enthusiasm for what they consider free speech in the context of the war between Israel and Hamas is offset by the belief of 62 percent of all students—and 74 percent of liberal-leaning students—that professors should be reported for making controversial statements about affirmative action, police shootings, sex and gender, guns, and vaccines. Worse, 56 percent of all students and 63 percent of liberal-leaning students support reporting other students for saying something they find offensive.

Students’ confusion about the principles of free speech and their lack of tolerance of other views represent an important Challenge for universities. But it remains critical that universities stand firm and defend students’ right to express their opinions, no matter how distasteful those opinions may be to the individual. They must also show students the limits of free speech: violence, disrupting campus activities, shouting down speakers with whom one disagrees, and intimidating or harassing others are not free speech. This commitment to freedom and responsibility can provide audiences with a sense of reassurance and support.

Recently, several universities have Chicago Declaration and the Kalven Committee Report on the University’s Role in Political and Social Action – Guiding Principles of the University of Chicago, designed to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression and institutional neutrality. The latest notice is a significant development. The university stated that neither the faculty nor its leadership would make official statements on public matters that did not directly affect their core function. These are important signals of a commitment to free speech on campus, and their recent adoption indicates an awareness of the problems of intolerance on campus.

Universities play a crucial role in developing new ideas and fostering groundbreaking discoveries. To maintain their position as bastions of innovation, it is essential that they not only embrace the principles of free expression, but also actively champion them. In doing so, they can create a healthy environment in which free expression and serious debate thrive, and prepare students to engage in and contribute to a diverse and pluralistic society.