Student Survey: UW practices free expression and respectful dialogue

A majority of University of Wyoming students have said the university practices academic and intellectual freedom, constructive dialogue and freedom of expression, according to a recent survey.

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Director of Institutional Communications for the University of Wyoming Chad Baldwin told listeners the results were encouraging. 

The survey was conducted for President Ed Seidel’s Freedom of Expression, Intellectual Freedom and Constructive Dialogue Working Group in collaboration with the Associated Students of UW. With a response of 680 students, the survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4% points.

Among the findings:

— Asked whether UW promotes an environment of free and open intellectual inquiry in classes, 69% of students said they agree or strongly agree, with just 8% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing.

— Some 93% of students identified one or more sectors of campus life as having offered them opportunities to engage in respectful dialogue amid controversial or sensitive topics, with classes within their major most often mentioned.

— Some 58% of students said they agree or strongly agree that UW protects their access to spoken words, printed matter, symbolic messages, freedom of association, books, art, music, movies, television programs and internet sites. Sixteen percent disagreed or strongly disagreed.

— Asked whether UW promotes an open culture of tolerance, discussion and debate surrounding controversial or sensitive topics on campus outside of classes, 55% of students said they agree or strongly agree, with 25% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing.

Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology visiting researcher  and co-chair of the Freedom of Expression, Intellectual Freedom and Constructive Dialogue Working Group, Martha McCaughey, said the survey results have helped inform the working group’s recommendations to the president.