The College Fix

Biggest target was guest speakers, followed by student events 

A pro-abortion woman stomped on a pro-life display at Virginia Commonwealth University. Students destroyed fliers advertising a debate on biological sex at Yale University. A blind doctor slated to give a talk about the dangers of technology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison had his event canceled because he’s a conservative.

These are just three examples among 101 cancel culture incidents chronicled during the 2024-25 school year by The College Fix’s Campus Cancel Culture Database.

The incidents vary widely, ranging from verbal harassment and destroying posters to professional blacklisting and physical assault. Many of the conflicts were spawned by topics such as politics, abortion, DEI, racism, and the Israel-Hamas war.

The 101 cases represent incidents from July 1, 2024, through June 15. There were 45 attempted cancellations and 56 successful ones. The biggest target was guest speakers, with 21 related incidents, followed by student events at 15.

Some of the more severe cases included career termination, table flipping, and physical assault.

In January, for example, an ASU College Republicans United event encouraging the report of illegal aliens to campus administration was disrupted when the group’s table was destroyed by a mob of protestors.

And a lawsuit was filed against the University of Illinois Chicago in February by a white male scholar who argued he was let go after blowing the whistle on alleged discriminatory practices.

Similarly, Dr. Kendall Conger had his position as adjunct associate at the Duke University School of Medicine abruptly terminated in August after he expressed doubt over systemic racism.

In March, a student attacked two conservative peers with a metal bike lock, the Dallas Observer reported at the time.

While this year’s total reached just over 100, The College Fix chronicled 130 campus cancel culture incidents during the 2023-24 school year.

“While we’ve seen a slight drop in the overall number of cancel culture incidents on campus this school year, clearly it’s still going strong,” said Jennifer Kabbany, editor of The College Fix.

“This year’s findings show an average of about two incidents per week, so campus cancel culture clearly remains a pressing problem,” Kabbany said.

The Fix’s exclusive database monitors and chronicles suppression efforts in higher education. It defines cancel culture as any effort by people or groups to identify someone or something as offensive or unacceptable and seek in some way to censor or punish the transgressor or item.

The database tracks both successful cancellations as well as attempted efforts, which can still have a chilling effect on freedom of expression.

Roughly 50 colleges and universities, mainly in the United States but also in Canada and the U.K., made the list this year. Harvard appeared most often with eight separate instances.

Vandalism was a common theme, with nearly 20 different instances. Red paint and spitting were often a part of campus conflicts this year.

For example, students spat on a pro-life leader, mobbed her display table, and stole fetal models in November at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Other notable headlines included: University may expel law student for alleged aggressive ‘pointing’ and misgendering; San Diego U. investigates white students dressed up as Diddy and a bottle of baby oil; and Smashed windows, blocked exits: 11 arrested after anti-Israel protestors hijack UMinn building.

One free speech expert confirmed The Fix’s finding that some of the most popular targets of cancel culture are speech and events related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“Without a doubt Israel-Palestine related events have been the biggest victim of censorship, cancellation, or subject to events being moved,” Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Program Officer Aaron Corpora said.

“This has been the case since October 7, 2023 and I expect it to continue to be for the foreseeable future,” he said via email.

When asked if students and universities should oppose cancel culture, Corpora answered, “Yes.”

“Assuming that the definition of ‘cancel culture’ here are attempts to deplatform or sanction people for protected but disfavored speech, these types of censorious impulses are antithetical to the mission of higher education,” he said.

“Universities are where ideas and even controversial or difficult topics should be rigorously discussed, debated, and learned from. Giving into impulses to shut down such conversations in the name of discomfort or even offense undermines the educational experience for everyone,” he said.

The Fix also asked Corpora whether he though the problem of cancelations will go away any time soon.

“I could see a case for either outcome,” he said, adding that in the last year, many schools have bolstered their commitments to free expression.

“On the other hand,” he said, “I don’t expect the impulse of individual students or groups to do what they see as necessary to shut down what they view as harmful ideas to completely stop anytime soon. So I think we’ll see both improvement and instances of censorship or attempted cancellations to continue.”

MORE: How conservative campus groups empower right-minded students to fight cancel culture

IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: The College Fix’s Campus Cancel Culture Database logo

Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter