B&I Workshop: Yphtach Lelkes (UPenn)

Yphtach Lelkes (UPenn) will present, "Free Speech, Harm, and Polarization: Navigating Democratic Tensions on College Campuses."

Abstract
This study investigates how U.S. college students navigate the tension between free speech and harm prevention in the wake of polarizing events such as the war in Gaza. Through survey experiments involving 3,065 students, we find that partisanship and social predispositions often override principled commitments to free speech. Support for speech restrictions is shaped by the severity of the speech, the identity of the target, and contextual factors like public versus private settings. Hateful rhetoric targeting minority groups elicits stronger punitive responses, with higher perceived harm and support for disciplinary actions when statements are made in public forums. Our findings reveal a key tension in democratic norms: while two-thirds of students prioritize protections for minority groups and one-third favor universal equal treatment, these commitments frequently falter under ideological pressures. The study highlights the challenge of balancing free expression with harm prevention on polarized campuses and underscores the importance of examining universities as microcosms for broader societal debates on democracy, inclusion, and the limits of free speech.