At Moravian University, some right-leaning students and staff say they feel the need to censor themselves in the classroom, fearing social backlash and academic repercussions for voicing their opinions.
Many students felt uncomfortable expressing views on a campus that many see as overwhelmingly left-leaning.
Louis Spann ‘26, a student trustee, said he’s grown cautious about voicing opinions, especially when it comes to topics such as DEI.
“[I feel] a considerable amount [of discomfort], even in casual conversation,” Spann said. “I want to keep the conversation casual, or [I worry about] someone thinking of me differently.”
“When I talk to friends, we speak quieter,” Louis added. “Conservatives are not the best at articulating, so they can [come] off the wrong way.”
Delaney Morton ‘25 once considered herself a “socialist liberal” but currently identifies as a “libertarian conservative.”
“The college classroom can feel like an echo chamber at times as people assume we all agree with more liberal-leaning ideas,” she said.
A class of ‘26 student who wished to remain anonymous said the discomfort stemmed from a lack of diverse ideological voices.
“There is a lack of intellectual diversity amongst faculty and even students (especially in the humanities) that creates an atmosphere of political correctness that prevents discussions from going anywhere,” they said. “Most conversations about controversial topics are repetitive talking points that align with the professor’s views.”
Multiple students noted that Moravian does not have spaces for judgment-free, open dialogue to occur between students with ideological differences.
Jack Ertle ‘26 shared that his comfort level depends on the people he is speaking with. If he somewhat knows someone, he feels more comfortable speaking with them politically than with those he does not know well.
“Moravian could allow for clubs pertaining to open discourse or conservative values,” said Matthew Mazzetti.
Ertle also pointed to the lack of conservative organizations on campus. He shared that alumni spoke with him about reviving a Republican club on campus, but that many students, including Ertle himself, were too busy to take on the leadership roles.
“Republicans and conservatives aren’t as invested in politics as Democrats are, especially at Moravian,” Ertle said.
Spann said that events hosted on campus sometimes only represent one perspective.
“The chaplains had an event about the death of the right to choose,” Spann said. “It was very glaringly one-sided, a very politicized event.”
Students and faculty both believe that Moravian can do more to foster respectful, bipartisan conversations.
“[A] debate club could help, but it needs to be a space where there are two sides and a conversation,” Spann said.
“Something one of my Lehigh [University] professors does is to have discourse then ask for someone to play devil’s advocate or argue the other side,” Morton said.
Ertle suggested events similar to the ones that the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) hosts, with more bipartisan conversations being encouraged.
“I think having more open discussions for all bodies, Dem, Rep, and Independent, would be helpful,” Ertle said. “At this time, everyone, to an extent, feels uncomfortable sharing views. It’s something that our generation as a whole feels because of how volatile the climate is.”
Daniel O’Connor, associate professor of practice in accounting, who identifies as a “moderate,” acknowledged the tension that students feel.
“There are definitely moments where you don’t want to stand out because you know the wave and tide that is flowing,” he said. “I’ve had students express that to me, depending on the classroom setting.”
O’Connor tries to maintain a politically neutral classroom environment, encouraging discussions rather than any one political ideology. He emphasized the importance of critical thinking and having open dialogues, especially with complex issues.
“If we have conversations, we can find middle ground,” he said. “When it becomes a binary, all good or all bad, that’s not good for anyone.”
O’Connor encourages faculty to be self-aware.
“We all have a natural bias,” he said. “Hopefully, the more times we catch that as faculty, the better.”
