In your opinion, should US institutions take public stances on politics and world events?

👍 Yes (24%) – "Public institutions are not neutral and cannot be neutral on major social issues. "Taking a neutral stance" is just another way to not be neutral: it has effects on social organization and the opportunities available to people in our society. And I don't think this "neutrality" is beneficial."

• "If it fits their mission and values, they should take a public stance. Personally, I purchase from companies that support the same values as I do."

👎 No (61%) – "Every individual has a right to speak up about political issues on their own time. Corporations and universities will always alienate some people in their communities if they choose sides. It is smart for businesses to do their business and stay neutral. School’s should encourage open dialogue with respect for various opinions."

• "Teaching institutions' job is to teach objective information to the students and not to push and influence the future leaders perspectives. Otherwise why having freedom if thoughts are subjugated. Businesses' job is to produce services and goods to keep humanity moving forward and to be competitive; not to advocate one concept over another. Being impartial and the focus on innovation is the burden of businesses and not villainising one concept or movement over another."

"It’s their job to provide goods and services. That shouldn’t try to influence public opinion, especially because they’re just doing it to look good so that people will buy their stuff. The cooperations who do stuff like that are really just pandering to the public and don’t actually care about what’s happening."

• "Corporations should stay out of politics, so their employees can feel secure at work without the fear of retaliation, harassment or professional stagnation when the employee does not align with the company political values. Colleges once provided to opportunity to experience multiple viewpoints but over the past few years have slanted to one viewpoint. This has led to bullying and protesting that promotes hatred towards specific students who are being cheated out of the college experience they are going onto debt for."

"It is not the place of universities to tell students what the correct opinion is. People have different reasons and life experiences which contribute to their opinions and if theirs is not in line with their school, it leads to feelings of alienation. Opinions are not facts. Opinions are how you feel about the information you have."

• "By remaining neutral, institution and companies are remaining respectful to both sides of an issue. They are not pushing one view or the other; or favoring one side or the other. Remaining neutral allows institutions & companies to be supportive of both sides. No every student or employee is going to see an issue the same way. There's enough pushing of views and attempts to brainwash people being done by the media and other figures. It's about time institutions and companies step back and out of all the political and social controversy. Remaining neutral shows respect for others and how they feel. It's about time, we get back to being more respectful of each others points of views. We don't have to agree with them, but need to respect them."

🤷 Unsure/other (15%) – "In general, I don't think so. It just makes everything so complicated and everyone (people and companies alike) always thinks they understand a situation better than they actually do. But I hope we never say that US institutions can't or never should take a public stance. There's probably always a risk to doing so, but part of being human is standing up for what we believe is right, even if we're sometimes wrong. Businesses are, hopefully, run by humans who occasionally care more about what is right than what public perception is."

• "I think it depends on the institution. Public institutions, like the University of Texas, should stay neutral as they receive tax payer funding. Private institutions and companies should be allowed to make whatever stances they want, but they also need to be ready for the consequences - public declaration provokes public response. Although, protesters also need to abide by the law, and private institutions should be allowed to prosecute law breakers to the full extent of the law. I'd also add that when private institutions make their politics known, it helps the public decide if they wish to support those politics by spending their money at those businesses. Every dollar is a vote."