Once upon a time the proprietors of colleges and universities considered their institutions as bastions of free speech and untrammelled inquiry in a nation where local communities and sometimes government suppressed dissent and stifled free expression. Now things are almost the other way around: free speech prevails, often tumultuously, in most of the country, but most colleges and universities restrict speech with speech codes, "safe spaces" and the like.

Fortunately, there are exceptions, and F.I.R.E., the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, has been working hard to increase their number. Here is F.I.R.E.'s list of "green light" colleges and universities. Those contemplating applying for college or graduate school, and those considering where their charitable dollars would most wisely be spent, might want to consult it before making their decisions.