A Shift in Campus Culture: Students Push for Real Debate

Things are changing on college campuses. A professor at Tufts University thinks the days of extreme political correctness might be winding down. He says a new group of students is tired of all the performative politics and wants real discussions instead. These students don't want to be seen as the stereotypical, overly politically correct type. They want to be known for their intelligence and ability to handle tough conversations. This shift could mean better free speech and more different viewpoints on campuses. But not everyone is convinced. Many people still don't trust colleges. A recent poll showed that only 35 percent of Americans think a college education is very important. That's a big drop from just a few years ago.The professor points out that campus culture changes as new students arrive. For example, many students today weren't around for the big protests about Israel and Hamas in 2023. Those protests led to many arrests at schools like Columbia and UCLA. He remembers a time when students would interrupt classes over small things, like using the word "Latino" instead of "Latinx. " But he thinks today's students would just roll their eyes at that kind of behavior. Universities are trying to fix these issues by hiring new teachers and changing policies. The professor believes these new students can help make campuses better. He says they should stand up for the truth and behave with respect.