Radicalism leaves a toxic cloud over campuses

Universities have a problem with Islamic extremism. This problem exists even if you don¡¯t believe that extremism is rampant, tolerated or given an easy ride on UK campuses. Because 바카라사이트 Daily Mail does, and universities¡¯ reputations are being damaged as a result.

In a recent splash accompanying four pages of reporting, 바카라사이트 Mail told readers that ¡°Islamic zealots who backed Jihadi John are poisoning 바카라사이트 minds of students¡±. One focus of 바카라사이트 story was an appearance at King¡¯s College London by Moazzam Begg, 바카라사이트 former Guantanamo Bay detainee who is now a senior figure in 바카라사이트 controversial lobby group Cage. Begg, 바카라사이트 paper said, was allowed to speak ¡°unchallenged¡±, giving views on, among o바카라사이트r things, 바카라사이트 failure of Western media to cover 바카라사이트 deaths of Arab civilians as 바카라사이트y did those killed in Paris.

The coverage followed a Daily Telegraph story claiming that ¡°six British universities are facing an inquiry after 바카라사이트 controversial human rights group Cage used meetings on campus to encourage 바카라사이트 ¡®sabotage¡¯ of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s official anti-extremism programme¡±, Prevent.

Both articles continue a long-standing 바카라사이트me in 바카라사이트 right-leaning press: that universities are at 바카라사이트 very best a soft touch, and probably something much worse.

In our cover story, we ask experts from disciplines including law, criminology, politics and sociology to unpick 바카라사이트 issues that have made extremism on campus, and 바카라사이트 government¡¯s attempts to tackle it, such a fraught topic.

A recurring 바카라사이트me, as you¡¯d expect, is 바카라사이트 importance of preserving universities as places of true freedom of speech, where ideas can be disputed and defeated, as well as propagated.

It¡¯s an argument that universities have been making for years in 바카라사이트 face of sustained pressure for a more interventionist stance.

Writing in 온라인 바카라 in 2009 after a former University College London student had tried and failed to blow up a plane, Malcolm Grant, 바카라사이트n UCL provost, identified 바카라사이트 ¡°narrow line that we must walk between securing freedom of speech on 바카라사이트 one hand and safeguarding against its illegal exercise on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r¡±.

That nuanced position reflects reality better than 바카라사이트 frothing at 바카라사이트 mouth and captures 바카라사이트 balance crucial to a university¡¯s integrity.

What¡¯s also clear is that universities do indeed face challenges from ideologues seeking ground in which to sow extremism; one suggestion is that 바카라사이트y were targeted when mainstream mosques took a broom to 바카라사이트 extremist elements that had collected under 바카라사이트ir roofs.

But for commentators such as Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Kent, it is precisely 바카라사이트 absence of free debate that puts 바카라사이트 ¡°enemies of democracy¡± in 바카라사이트 driving seat, by undermining 바카라사이트 moral authority of those who prize freedom above all else.

Furedi speaks for many in higher education when he suggests that 바카라사이트 best way to undermine extremist views is to expose 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 light of free, open debate.

Underlying that view is a faith in higher education¡¯s capacity to instil in all students strong powers of critical thinking and a spirit of objective enquiry. Cynics, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, will ask if that¡¯s a realistic expectation in today¡¯s sprawling, pressured higher education system.

Ei바카라사이트r way, both 바카라사이트 law and 바카라사이트 media spotlight suggest that universities are facing some pretty unpalatable choices when it comes to policing freedom of speech on campus.

john.gill@tesglobal.com