UNLV and UNR Receive 'F' Grades in Free Speech Rankings
Recent events, including the suspension of late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel for offensive remarks, Google's admission of censoring YouTube channels at the Biden administration's request, and the assassination of Christian speaker Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, have intensified discussions about the boundaries of free speech. Universities, colleges, and libraries are traditionally regarded as venues for learning, exchanging ideas, and fostering open, safe discourse. For Nevada’s top college campuses, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has graded both the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) an "F" for their free speech climates.
FIRE released its sixth annual free speech rankings in September, surveying 68,510 undergraduates from 257 U.S. colleges between January and June 2025. The rankings show Claremont McKenna College as the top performer, followed by Purdue University, University of Chicago, Michigan Technological University, and University of Colorado at Boulder. Barnard College ranked the worst for providing a free speech climate, with Columbia University, Indiana University, University of Washington, and Northeastern University also in the bottom five. With an average score of 58.63, equivalent to an "F" grade, 166 schools failed, while only 11 earned a "C" or higher. Key issues include 53% of students finding open discussion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict difficult, rising acceptance of shouting down or using violence to silence speakers, and a majority opposing controversial speakers of any political lean. Amid political pressures targeting DEI programs and campus protests, the rankings highlight a growing reluctance among students to engage in open dialogue, with increased self-censorship and hostility toward free expression.
For Nevada’s universities, UNLV ranks 95th and UNR ranks 100th out of 257 schools surveyed. UNLV is in the top 50 for students feeling comfortable expressing controversial views, suggesting some degree of open dialogue. However, it falls in the bottom 25% for self-censorship, with 41% of students reporting they self-censor due to fear of backlash. UNR is in the bottom 25% for "openness," with students indicating many topics feel off-limits in class or social settings. FIRE reports a 3:1 ratio of liberal to conservative students at both campuses.
FIRE deducted points from UNLV's ranking due to one speech-related controversy: In February 2024, pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted a lecture on black holes by visiting Israeli physicist Asaf Peer, leading campus police to end the event early and escort him from the premises after determining they could not remove the protesters.
A staggering 68% of students at UNLV and UNR indicated that shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus is acceptable at least in rare cases. Additionally, 32% of these students said using violence to stop a campus speech is acceptable. These figures follow a national trend, where acceptance of such disruptions reached record highs in 2025. On September 10, conservative speaker Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. In a statement following the assassination of Kirk, UNLV Interim President Chris Heavey described college campuses as "special places in American society where people of different viewpoints can meet, question, and challenge one another without fear," adding that "to see violence enter those spaces is to see the very foundation of higher learning threatened." In a campus-wide email, University of Nevada, Reno President Brian Sandoval expressed profound sorrow over the assassination of Charlie Kirk. He emphasized Kirk’s death as a powerful symbol of growing national division and unrest, calling it a "shocking event that has shaken the democratic ideals of our nation."
Under the University Administrative Manual, outdoor plazas and lobbies at UNLV and UNR are designated public forums where expressive activities, including recording by "First Amendment Auditors" testing institutional responses, are protected. Faculty and staff are advised to remain professional, refrain from blocking cameras, and contact authorities only if auditors disrupt operations or attempt to access restricted areas like private offices or classrooms, which are not public forums. According to the FIRE survey, the primary barriers to free speech are psychological, including widespread self-censorship, topics perceived as off-limits, and acceptance of disruption as a means to silence speech. While UNR avoided a deduction for speech controversies, its students’ perception of restricted topics indicates a subtler form of suppression that hinders open discourse without overt conflict.
Nevada’s universities have updated their First Amendment FAQ pages, outlining free speech, expression, and assembly as constitutionally protected rights essential to higher education’s “marketplace of ideas.” Civil disobedience, however, is not protected. Hate speech—offensive, threatening, or insulting based on race, religion, gender, or other traits—may qualify as harassment if severe and pervasive, violating university policies and federal law. Printed materials like posters and fliers, as well as photographing or videotaping in public campus areas, are protected. Chalking for general messages is prohibited. Student organizations and faculty may invite outside speakers, but events must follow university policies and Student Events Advisory Board procedures. Event approvals are based on policy compliance, not speaker content, as content-based decisions would violate the First Amendment.
The College Free Speech Rankings are available online and are presented in an interactive dashboard (rankings.thefire.org) that allows for easy comparison between institutions.
