A recent survey highlighted that nearly half of undergraduate students think physical violence is acceptable to stop what they consider “hate speech”. This finding raises concerns about the current state of moral education in higher learning institutions.
Survey Results
The 2026 National Undergraduate Student Survey, conducted by the Buckley Institute, revealed 45% of students believe violence is justifiable against hate speech. This perspective is held by 54% of liberal students, 36% of moderates, and 30% of conservatives. The survey also found significant support for silencing offensive speech, with 46% endorsing shout downs and 40% backing criminal prosecution for such speech.
Additionally, 42% of students expressed a preference for a socialist system over a capitalist one. A worrying 22% even believed that the United States deserved the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Impact on Higher Education
Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, President of Cornerstone University, described these statistics as indicative of a deeper “moral formation issue”, rather than merely a free speech problem. He raised concerns about universities failing to instill strong moral frameworks in students. According to Moreno-Riaño, institutions are instead fostering resentment and entitlement among graduates.
Employers are reportedly worried about the perceived worthlessness of degrees and the attitudes of new graduates. Moreno-Riaño pointed out that rather than cultivating reasoning and dialogue, universities might be producing graduates who lean towards grievance and violence.
Concerns Over Ideological Influence
Moreno-Riaño emphasized that the loss of moral guidance is leading to the rise of ideologies like communism and socialism on campuses. The lack of historical awareness about these ideologies’ downsides alarmingly coincides with their growing appeal among students.
Some employers are reconsidering the necessity of college education altogether, pondering direct job training from high school. The focus on ideological indoctrination is seen as detracting from practical problem-solving skills needed in the workforce.
The Path Forward
Moreno-Riaño called for a change in higher education throughout the U.S., advocating for a return to moral education. He asserted that grounding students in principles of reasoning and deliberation, rather than entitlement, is crucial.
The Buckley Institute commissioned the survey through Inquire LLC, gathering responses from 803 full-time undergraduates under 25 years old from four-year colleges and universities between September 5 and 14.
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