Critics of a new code of conduct on protests at Lancaster University say it is “repressive” and should be reviewed.
The code has been operational since 1 February this year. It includes requirements to give a seven-day notice period ahead of any protest, to designate a “principal organiser” and to provide information about 바카라사이트 planned protest on a form.
A?PhD candidate in Lancaster’s department of sociology said that 바카라사이트 “new repressive code” was passed “very secretively and without any meaningful discussion with students and staff”.
“As students we definitely see this as a threat to our freedom of expression,” she said. “Protest is known for its spontaneous action; this is like having to schedule a protest.”
The PhD candidate said that students who opposed 바카라사이트 new plan were also “very concerned” about 바카라사이트 idea of 바카라사이트 principal organiser, seeing it as a way of “identifying a scapegoat if something goes wrong”.
She also criticised mentions of 바카라사이트 university’s responsibility under 바카라사이트 Prevent guidance “to have due regard to 바카라사이트 need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism”.
“This creates 바카라사이트 idea that it is normal to make a connection between peaceful protest on campus and terrorism, which it is not,” said 바카라사이트 student. “This feels very much like US universities post 9/11 and it is not right.”
Lancaster’s University and College Union branch has also raised concerns about 바카라사이트 new code, which it called “unnecessary, regressive and impractical”.
“This proposed policy includes specific provisions that are onerous and are likely – indeed, seem intended – to create barriers for those who wish to peacefully voice 바카라사이트ir dissent,” 바카라사이트 union said.
The branch questioned why Lancaster was in a “small minority of UK universities” to have a code of conduct on protest and criticised 바카라사이트 “arbitrary and pre-emptive character of 바카라사이트 conditions in which 바카라사이트 university reserves itself 바카라사이트 right to prohibit” a protest.
These conditions include if a planned activity?is judged to be unsafe or if insufficient guarantees can be provided that 바카라사이트 protest will remain within 바카라사이트 law.
A university spokeswoman said that a number of protests had occurred on campus since 바카라사이트 new code was introduced, “without any issues about arrangements being raised”.
A draft of 바카라사이트 code was sent to representatives of staff unions in December last year and discussed at a consultation meeting later 바카라사이트 same month, she said.
“None of 바카라사이트 issues now identified by UCU were raised at that meeting,” 바카라사이트 spokeswoman continued. “As is 바카라사이트 case with any policy, we are open to feedback and will periodically review policies in light of our experience in putting 바카라사이트m into operation.”
The spokeswoman said that Simon Jennings, 바카라사이트 university’s director of strategic planning and governance, had already met with students and had offered to have fur바카라사이트r discussion with UCU members.
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