USC Faculty Express Concern Over Critical Thinking Skills Amid Free Speech Debate

A panel of University of Southern California faculty members voiced a shared concern yesterday that students are losing the ability to think critically for themselves, during a discussion hosted by the USC Open Dialogue Project.

The event, titled “The Compact for Excellence in Higher Education: Faculty Reflections on USC’s Next Steps,” brought together professors from various disciplines to discuss the university’s decision to decline the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. Richard Green, a professor at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and the Marshall School of Business, illustrated the issue by recounting a recent experience in his class: “I asked my students if they were aware of the Trump Administration’s compact… Three out of 28 knew.” He added, “I would way rather have a student express an idea that I find ideologically hostile to me than not have any opinion at all about anything.” This debate comes as USC attempts to improve its standing on free speech, having received an “F” grade from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression this year.

While panelists had differing views on the rejection of the compact itself, a common thread was the need for more robust intellectual discourse on campus. Anna Krylov, USC Associates Chair in Natural Sciences and professor of chemistry, expressed disappointment that USC didn’t use the opportunity to propose changes to the compact, stating she hoped the university could “take a strong leadership role.” James Moore, professor emeritus of industrial and systems engineering, suggested the compact might have been a “jolt necessary” to address what he sees as universities losing their way. Concerns were also raised about the experiences of conservative students and faculty, with Moore noting USC is a “miserable place to be outwardly, actively, openly conservative.” You can learn more about the USC Open Dialogue Project and upcoming events here.

The discussion also touched on practical issues like budget constraints and grade inflation, with several faculty members advocating for more honest grading practices and standardized testing. Interim President Beong-Soo Kim’s focus on free speech prompted the event, and administrators indicated they will continue to prioritize open dialogue on campus.