Linda Stamato said on May 4 that self-censorship is becoming a growing concern at New Jersey’s higher education institutions. She said faculty members are choosing to censor themselves due to fears that administrators may respond to political pressures or that students might record classroom remarks considered unacceptable, putting professors’ jobs at risk.
Stamato said this trend should draw public attention and called for support for faculty. She cited a recent New York Times headline about professors changing what they teach even outside the direct influence of national politics, noting that subtle pressures from administration and community can lead educators to silence themselves.
She referenced a report by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which found one in five faculty members likely to self-censor in professional settings. According to FIRE’s “Silence in the Classroom” report, thirty-five percent of surveyed faculty had recently toned down their writing out of fear of controversy, compared with nine percent during the McCarthy era. Twenty-seven percent felt unable to speak freely because of concerns about reactions from students, administrators or colleagues, while forty percent worried about reputational harm if misunderstood.
A senior Rutgers colleague told Stamato she is “very alarmed by the degree of self-censorship that goes on — including camouflaging the nature of research and relabeling course offerings.” Another colleague described an “atmosphere of conformity, timidity and fear” as harmful to education. Stamato also discussed new forms of intimidation such as Turning Point USA’s Professor Watchlist, which encourages student-led efforts to monitor instructors for alleged bias.
The article highlights broader implications beyond campus boundaries. Stamato said threats to free speech affect society as a whole: “When students are no longer exposed to a variety of viewpoints and faculty feel compelled to limit their speech on and off campus, democracy itself is at risk.”
According to the official website, the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy operates within Rutgers University as part of its commitment toward just, socially inclusive communities at local, national and global levels. The school has earned national rankings for its programs in urban planning and public health according to its official website. Stuart Shapiro became dean in 2023 according to the official website.