The online learning environment hastily imposed on students during the ongoing pandemic has accelerated the growth of cancel culture at U.S. universities, according to a new report by the  American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA). Relying on empirical data taken from student surveys, along with insights from faculty and higher education leaders across the nation, the Sept. 8 report “Building a Culture of Free Expression in the Online Classroom,” asserts that the sudden, widespread adoption of virtual education in this country worsened the free speech crisis on college campuses, further limited diversity of viewpoints, and encouraged more self-censorship among students. “The lifeblood of the liberal arts is debate, dialectic, inquiry, and challenge,” ACTA President Michael Poliakoff said in a statement. ACTA describes itself as “an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting academic excellence, academic freedom, and accountability at America’s colleges and universities.” “In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that has threatened the strength and …