Conservative Speakers Shut Out From 2021 Commencement Season
YAF’s 29th annual Commencement Speaker Survey reveals that unsurprisingly, conservative voices were shut out from the 2021 spring commencement season.
YAF’s Commencement Speakers Survey scrutinizes the commencement addresses given at the top 100 national universities as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. With 37 liberal speakers imparting progressive ideas and just 1 conservative addressing graduates, the bias in this year’s commencement season is undeniable.
The Class of 2021 will hear divisive speeches from many left-wing speakers with a history in social justice and “anti-racism,” including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Legend, David Brooks, and André De Shields.
Other outspoken liberals including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Oprah Winfrey, Bryan Stevenson, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Bob Iger, and Dr. Brittany Lewis will be speaking at some of America’s top-rated schools.
Wouldn’t it be beneficial in the current state of affairs for students to hear from a Constitutional expert like Senator Mike Lee? Where is Clarence Thomas, Megyn Kelly, or Vice President Mike Pence? What about Amy Coney Barrett?
“As made obvious in this year’s survey, universities continue to push far-left narratives from the first day of classes all the way until students walk across stage for their diploma,” Young America’s Foundation Spokeswoman Kara Zupkus said. “YAF will continue to ensure students have the opportunity to hear conservative viewpoints through its unparalleled campus lecture program––providing students with resources and speakers that schools simply will not.”
YAF determines speaker ideology by surveying speakers’ public FEC records, searchable public statements and endorsements, and service in elected or appointed office. Speakers were included only if they were acting in the capacity of a keynote speaker and addressing a comprehensive graduation ceremony. Data is as of 5/10/2021–some schools have yet to announce their speakers. The full research is downloadable here.
