Welcome back to another week of “Serve & Survey.” This week’s poll was inspired by watching a friend absolutely brutalize what had initially seemed like her perfect match on Hinge. The man in question had listed his profile under “not political,” and within seconds the situation went from promising to completely unsalvageable as she lectured him on how neutrality is worse than having opposing views.
We live in a world where conversations about politics, social issues and cultural debates seem unavoidable, and divisions on these topics seem ever-growing. Opinions travel quickly while disagreements travel even faster, and silence can sometimes feel like a statement in itself. So naturally, I wondered what people here thought about it. This week’s question was: Should you always speak up about what you believe, or is it OK to stay silent to maintain peace?
To speak or not to speak — that is the question, as Hamlet spirals on. After circling both dining halls this week, I polled a total of 87 students. And, for what might be the most surprising results I have gotten yet, the outcome was almost unanimous. Of the 87 students polled, 84 students (97%) said people should speak out, while only three students (3%) believed it is sometimes better to stay silent in order to maintain peace.
Considering how divided many conversations in society feel right now, this overwhelming agreement was unexpected. Students may hold completely different views about the issues themselves, but when it comes to the idea of expressing those views, most people seem to share the same instinct: Speaking up matters. Many students framed their reasoning around the impact that silence can have on other people. As one student put it, “Even if issues don’t affect you, they affect people that you care about.” This response reflects a mindset that is less about individual opinion and more about collective responsibility. For these students, remaining quiet isn’t neutral if the outcome of that silence could affect friends, family or communities around them.
Others pointed out that speaking out can also create space for people who might not have the opportunity to do so themselves. Another student explained that “people who might agree with you might not have the same opportunity to discuss such, [and] therefore you're a voice for others.” In this light, speaking up isn’t just about someone defending their beliefs against what can feel like a pack of wolves. Instead, it amplifies conversations that might otherwise be overlooked to give voice to those who don’t feel able to directly participate. This also introduces the fact that not everyone has the same privilege to speak on such topics because not everyone faces the same consequences when they speak. Some people have more freedom or safety in expressing their beliefs and therefore have a sense of responsibility to do so.
Students often included that same condition in their answers, saying that speaking out matters only if it is safe to do so. Safety was a concern that came up repeatedly. People recognized that not every environment welcomes open debate. Classrooms, workplaces and personal relationships all carry different risks.
The issue of relationships also appeared in many responses, as people recognized how divisions on important issues can often impact their connections with family or friends. One student said, “You can't sacrifice … how you see the world to maintain relationships.” Staying silent can preserve harmony in the short term, but it can also create internal conflict if silence means hiding something important.
Additionally, people see their opinions as important beyond ‘not discussing politics at the dinner table.’ Their voices hold power, and that power is only multiplied when large numbers raise theirs. For many students in this poll, maintaining peace was not worth the cost of suppressing their beliefs. This is the main point that the three individuals who chose to stay silent emphasized when explaining their answers, but even they recognized that some issues are more important than pacifying the tension between people you know.
Still, the numbers in this poll show a strong cultural instinct toward expression, even if conversations can quickly turn tense. Students seem to value openness over avoidance. Now, I’ll admit that this week’s question went a little deeper than the usual “Serve & Survey” agenda. Normally, I try to keep these polls lighthearted — something fun to think about during social hour with friends so as to not kill a lunch table’s mood. While this week’s question touched on bigger ideas, I intentionally didn’t ask about anyone’s specific beliefs. That’s not really the point of this column. But even if people disagree about the issues themselves, many believe it is important to stay informed by doing your own research, paying attention to what is happening in the world and understanding the conversations shaping society. Speaking out starts with knowing what you are speaking about.
This was this week’s survey. You’ve officially been served. Until next time on “Serve & Survey.”
