A freedom of speech row has erupted at Durham University as one of its oldest societies, the 182 year-old Durham Union debating society, was banned from taking part in freshers’ fair over “DEI non-compliance”. The Mail has the story.
The fresher’s fair, which is organised by the university’s student union, sees hundreds of new students flock to stalls set up by various societies on campus.
However, this year the university’s 182-year-old debating society, whose previous guest include ex-Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Theresa May, as well as the late Dame Maggie Smith. was blocked from taking part amid racism allegations.
Durham Students’ Union claimed Durham Union Society had fallen short in proving it had improved its standards following accusations of racism, the Telegraph reports.
It also said that the debating society, which is a registered charity, was independent from the university and had no formal commitment to the institution.
A free speech group has slammed the student body, accusing it of “censorious behaviour”.
In a letter to Durham University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen O’Brien, the Free Speech Union alleged Durham Union Society had been barred from the event because “it isn’t Left-wing enough”.
In a letter seen by MailOnline, the founder of the group, Toby Young claimed the university had a responsibility to protect free speech for all students, staff and visiting guests.
“As things stand, it is now incumbent on the university to ensure that the situation is rectified,” he wrote in a letter seen by the publication.
Mr. Young implied that the dispute would have not occurred if the Government hadn’t paused its introduction of new free speech legislation.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced in July she would halt the implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act while the Government considered its future.
The new law would have meant universities were obligated to actively encourage free speech on campus and establish a new complaints process for individuals affected by no-platforming.
Mr. Young told MailOnline: “Durham Students’ Union claims this isn’t a free speech issue because it hasn’t banned the debating society because of its officers views or the views expressed by invited speakers. But that’s misleading.
“It has banned the debating society because, in the eyes of the Students’ Union, it hasn’t adopted sufficiently robust Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policies. But such policies are not apolitical, particularly not the extreme ones the Students’ Union wanted the debating society to adopt.
“On the contrary, they’re rooted in a far-Left political ideology. In effect, the Students’ Union’s refusal to allow the debating society a platform is because it has refused to embrace its woke agenda.
“That makes it a free speech issue and, as such, it wouldn’t have been possible for the Students’ Union to no-platform the debating society if the Government hadn’t torpedoed the Freedom of Speech Act, which is designed to tackle cancel culture at universities.”
Worth reading in full.
Weirdly, the dispute originated with “conservative commentator” Samantha Smith who, after writing online she had not experienced racism at Durham (she is of Afro-Hispanic heritage), was subjected (in absentia) to a racial slur by someone at a Durham Union event who objected to her writing. She has since tried to have the person ejected from the university and made a huge fuss about his punishment being inadequate (he was kicked out of the debating society and asked to do 100 hours of community service). Meanwhile, the Students’ Union’s latest action against Durham Union was set in motion by the racist remark. It doesn’t seem very “conservative” to me to pursue the cancellation of a person, even an unpleasant one, or a debating society over a demeaning word. Maybe time to call off the “conservative” dogs?
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