At the University Senate open forum Wednesday, a faculty member raised concerns about the university’s free speech ranking. The librarian wanted to know how the ranking would affect application numbers for incoming students.

Chancellor Nancy Cantor said application numbers have not been affected by the ranking. In January 2011, after an incident in the College of Law, Syracuse University was named the worst school for free speech by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, an organization devoted to policing individual freedoms in higher education. The organization became involved again when an issue arose in the School of Education last month.

FIRE’s vice president of programs said he expects SU to remain at the top of the worst schools for free speech in the future.

Regardless of whether the rankings are affecting student application numbers, the ranking poses a problem for SU.

If the trend of incidents involving free speech continues at SU, it may have an effect on application numbers. Students will not want to come to a school that has poor free speech rankings because it can make for an uncomfortable learning environment. The incidents at the College of Law and School of Education made headlines and applicants across the country could have heard about it.

To help alleviate this issue and stop SU from continuing to be ranked as the worst school for free speech, individual school and college codes need to be more clearly stated. School and college administrators need to make clear to students where these policies can be found. While it is expected for codes and policies to vary from school to school — to fit the different majors and missions of the schools — clarity for students is key.