A new survey from the Buckley Institute finds that 45 percent of American undergraduate students believe physical violence can sometimes be justified to stop speech they consider hate speech. The 2026 National Undergraduate Student Survey, released this month, has sparked fresh discussion about free speech and campus culture.
The Buckley Institute announced the release of its 2026 National Undergraduate Student Survey on October 8, 2026.. The survey itself was conducted September 5–14, 2026.
Cornerstone University President Gerson Moreno-Riaño responded to the results by arguing that many universities have drifted from their core purpose. In comments to media outlets, he said higher education is increasingly producing students who leave campus angry, entitled, and inclined toward violence. Instead of teaching open debate and careful inquiry, he contended, too many institutions are turning out socialists and Marxists.
The survey, conducted by Inquire LLC among 803 full-time undergraduates under age 25 at four-year colleges, also recorded high levels of support for other forms of speech restriction. Forty-six percent said it is sometimes acceptable to shout down or disrupt campus speakers. Forty percent agreed that offensive speech should be subject to criminal prosecution. At the same time, a record 66 percent acknowledged that hate speech remains protected under the First Amendment.
The findings highlight a clear divide in how younger adults weigh free expression against claims of harm. Free speech advocates see the numbers as evidence of a dangerous erosion of civil norms. Others maintain that students are reacting to real experiences of hostility and discrimination.
University leaders now face renewed questions about codes of conduct and the balance between safety and open inquiry. Academic freedom groups warn that accepting violence as a response to words undermines the basic work of higher education.
The Buckley Institute data arrives amid ongoing state-level debates over viewpoint diversity and ideological requirements on campus. Figures such as Moreno-Riaño argue that deeper structural and cultural changes are needed if universities are to recover their traditional role of fostering rigorous, open-minded discussion.
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