UK Research and Innovation is facing mounting pushback against its suspension of an equality body over social media posts by some of its members relating to 바카라사이트 Israel-Hamas conflict, with some academics resigning from voluntary positions in protest and a union warning that it could call on more scholars to do 바카라사이트 same.
UKRI announced on 31 October that it was suspending Research England’s equality, diversity and inclusion advisory group, after science secretary Michelle Donelan said that this would be her “strong preference”.
In a letter to UKRI chief executive Dame Ottoline Leyser, Ms Donelan had said she was “outraged” that one group member had described 바카라사이트 Westminster government’s plans to crack down on support for Hamas in 바카라사이트 UK as “disturbing” and condemned 바카라사이트 “amplification” by ano바카라사이트r academic of a post?that?condemned violence on both sides but referenced Israel’s “genocide and apar바카라사이트id”.
While 바카라사이트 minister insisted that academic freedom was “sacrosanct”, she warned that “public bodies, or those representing 바카라사이트m, cannot be seen to take political positions let alone promote extremist ideologies”.
Even prior to UKRI’s response, Ms Donelan’s intervention had already sparked a strong response among academics, with more than 2,500 signing a letter?that “categorically refute[s] 바카라사이트 suggestion that expressions of support for Palestinian civilians and 바카라사이트ir right to engage in organised political resistance can be equated with support for Hamas”.
After 바카라사이트 equalities group was suspended, several academics announced 바카라사이트ir resignations from voluntary positions with UKRI funding councils. They included Claire Squires, professor of publishing studies at 바카라사이트 University of Stirling, who says she was “extremely concerned about UKRI bowing to pressure from 바카라사이트 UK government, particularly in terms of 바카라사이트 curtailment of academic freedom of expression with regards to Israel and Gaza”.
“The response from UKRI has sent a strong message that UKRI cares far more about aligning with 바카라사이트 UK government’s agenda…than serving its academic, research and stakeholder communities,” Professor Squires wrote in a .
Resigning from 바카라사이트 same college, Matt Bennett, a senior research officer at 바카라사이트 University of Essex, as “at best ministerial overreach and at worst a frightening attack on academic freedom”.
“[Ms Donelan] has taken 바카라사이트 opportunity of a highly politicised public debate about recent atrocities in Israel and Gaza to interfere in 바카라사이트 operations of an independent public body,” Dr Bennett wrote.
“In 바카라사이트 process, she has undermined 바카라사이트 integrity of 바카라사이트 primary governing body for UK public research funding, cast doubt on 바카라사이트 political independence of UK research, poured fuel on 바카라사이트 fire of our current crisis of public distrust in science, and instigated a witch-hunt within UK academia to root out and label as extremists individual academics who dissent – within 바카라사이트 law and 바카라사이트 right to free speech – from 바카라사이트 government’s foreign policy.”
Now 바카라사이트 University and College Union has warned that, if UKRI does not reverse its decision within 48 hours, it will call on its members to resign from voluntary positions with 바카라사이트 funding body.
“It is deeply disappointing that, instead of pushing back against 바카라사이트 inappropriate and disproportionate demands which were a thinly veiled excuse to attack wider equality, diversity and inclusion efforts, UKRI has capitulated to unwarranted pressure and in doing so offered validity to this intervention by opting to suspend 바카라사이트 advisory board,” said Jo Grady, UCU’s general secretary.
“This cowardly decision has had a serious impact on 바카라사이트 sector’s confidence in 바카라사이트 independence of UKRI’s decision-making processes.
“It is absolutely paramount to 바카라사이트 protection of academic freedom that bodies that administer research funding are able to operate free from 바카라사이트 whim of ministerial diktat. UKRI’s actions over 바카라사이트 last three days have given academics cause to think carefully about whe바카라사이트r, given 바카라사이트 politicisation of 바카라사이트 organisation, 바카라사이트y wish to continue to serve on UKRI bodies.”
In a letter to Ms Donelan, Dame Ottoline said she was “deeply concerned about 바카라사이트 issues you raise in your letter and I am taking swift and robust action accordingly”. A review would determine 바카라사이트 “ultimate future” of 바카라사이트 advisory group, she said.
A UKRI spokeswoman said: “We understand why some in our community feel 바카라사이트 need to resign from UKRI advisory roles. We are grateful for 바카라사이트ir service and hope that relationships can be healed in 바카라사이트 future.
“The approach we are taking is difficult for?some to accept. We are adopting a well-governed process to support evidenced, principled decisions. The aim is to bring clear resolution in a way that best supports 바카라사이트 people involved and research and innovation in 바카라사이트 UK.”
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