| Campus Tolerance Foundation and Public Agenda selected FDR Research, to develop a survey, to measure the level of tolerance at universities in the US. A pilot test was conducted at three universities, to serve as a template to be replicated across the country.*
Between 43% and 64% of the students at each campus, had either personally been a victim of a bias incident (graffiti, verbal insult, physical threat or physical assault) due to their group membership or had witnessed others being victims. (Columbia 43%, Berkeley 49%, MSU 64%)
A significant number of students believe that women are likely to be sexually assaulted on campus and that date rape is likely to occur. 22%-52% of the undergraduates believe women are at a physical risk on their campus (Berkeley 22%, Columbia 22%, MSU 52%)
The results on sexual assaults are corroborated by research done by the AAUW, Dept of Defense, Air Force Academy etc.
Many students say that lessons and discussions end up being mostly one-sided and missing key perspectives and that students don't voice their views because they fear they will be disagreed with. (Columbia 17%, Berkeley 32%, MSU 42%)
26%-43% of the students said both that behind closed doors, prejudice comes out and that there is a self-segregation of groups on campus. (Columbia 26%, Berkeley 34%, MSU 43%)
Click here for a report of the findings
*The Pilot Test was carried out in the spring and summer of 2007 at Berkeley, Columbia and Michigan State Universities. The research at each university included background interviews, focus groups with students and a survey online. A total of 1039 undergraduates were interviewed anonymously.
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