OPINION

Why Virginia Universities Aren’t Making the Grade When It Comes to Free Speech

Joe Thomas •   September 25, 2025

When it comes to free speech on campus, Virginia universities aren’t making the grade. On Sept. 23, I published a column detailing how some Virginia universities rank in the latest College Free Speech Rankings from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

The rankings report gives universities in the commonwealth an overall score of 64.1/100 for a D and suggests, “Clarifying written policies and strengthening institutional commitments would help improve free speech climates across Virginia campuses.”

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The Daily Signal caught up with Sean Stevens, chief research advisor at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, to discuss exactly how schools get ranked and what underperforming schools can learn from those with better scores that rank near the top.

Listen here:

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Joe Thomas
Joe Thomas | Virginia Correspondent
Joe Thomas is a Virginia correspondent for the Daily Signal.

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