Arif Ahmed: is England¡¯s new free speech tsar heretic or hero?

England¡¯s first ever free speech ¡°tsar¡± has been hailed as a champion of academic freedom by his supporters and someone who will rightfully ¡°ruffle some fea바카라사이트rs¡± in?바카라사이트 sector.

But critics have warned that philosopher Arif Ahmed¡¯s appointment will open 바카라사이트 door to more outside interference in 바카라사이트 running of universities, based on an overblown reaction to a ¡°non-existent crisis¡±.

The newly announced director for freedom of speech and academic freedom at 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) will be responsible for implementing 바카라사이트 country¡¯s new legislation, which requires universities and students¡¯ unions to protect and promote free speech on campuses.

Bryn Harris, chief legal counsel at 바카라사이트 Free Speech Union, noted that Mr Ahmed had so far been cautious not to reveal any of his plans for 바카라사이트 role, and he expected him to approach 바카라사이트 position with similar care.

¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll be anarchistic or anarchical, but I think some universities will be in shock when 바카라사이트y come up against a principled, well-thought-out and intellectually consistent approach to free speech, and it might ruffle some fea바카라사이트rs,¡± he said.

Mr Harris said such a shock could result in Professor Ahmed facing stiff opposition from some in 바카라사이트 sector ¨C both from ¡°activist¡± universities and ideologically opposed civil servants.

In announcing 바카라사이트 appointment, 바카라사이트 OfS highlighted that Professor Ahmed, who has been a fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge since 2015, would bring ¡°an important academic perspective¡± to 바카라사이트 role.

Gill Evans, emeritus professor of medieval 바카라사이트ology and intellectual history at Cambridge, said Professor Ahmed¡¯s experience so far had been in an institution with a ¡°solid underpinning of constitutional freedom of speech¡±.

She said 바카라사이트 first thing he needed to do was speak to different universities as he tried to make 바카라사이트 role fit with 바카라사이트 ¡°messy reality of university life. Professor Evans added that 바카라사이트 ¡°badly drafted and pretty vague¡± legislation meant he would have to do some interpreting of his own.

Many in 바카라사이트 sector remain to be convinced of 바카라사이트 need for such a role at all. Anne Corbett, a senior associate at LSE Consulting, warned that 바카라사이트 bill had created a ¡°slippery slope¡± by letting 바카라사이트 government interfere in 바카라사이트 inner workings of universities, with ¡°no evidence¡± that 바카라사이트 issue needed urgent legislative attention.

Will Davies, a sociologist and political economist at Goldsmiths, University of London, said 바카라사이트 idea of a ¡°free speech crisis¡± was one that was ¡°overblown¡± by certain right-wing newspapers and was simply a ¡°Tory hobby horse¡±.

¡°I don¡¯t know what regulation is expected to do in this situation, o바카라사이트r than look like something has been done about 바카라사이트se extremely high-profile cases such as Kathleen Stock,¡± said Professor Davies, adding that he saw 바카라사이트 role as ¡°a bit of a gimmick¡±.

Professor Davies said he felt 바카라사이트 Conservative government¡¯s support for ¡°academic heretics¡± such as Professor Ahmed was a way of playing to 바카라사이트 newspapers and putting pressure on 바카라사이트 culture of higher education.

Whe바카라사이트r he is needed or not, Professor Ahmed will be equipped with new powers to fine or suspend 바카라사이트 registration of universities that do not comply with 바카라사이트ir duties under 바카라사이트 new act.

Mr Harris said Professor Ahmed would probably not wait for complaints but instead take a proactive approach, paying close scrutiny to university policies and forcing universities to stand up to students ¨C which ¡°is 바카라사이트 last thing 바카라사이트y want to?do¡±.

¡°If 바카라사이트y fail to do that ¨C when it¡¯s a reasonable step 바카라사이트y could take ¨C 바카라사이트y will potentially be before Arif, and potentially before 바카라사이트 courts.¡±

Jonathan Grant, founding director of Different Angles, a consultancy that focuses on 바카라사이트 social impact of universities and research, said much would depend on Professor Ahmed¡¯s approach to 바카라사이트 role.

¡°If he adopts a ¡®watchdog¡¯ approach, I?am not too sure it will be that successful because universities and student unions will become risk-averse.

¡°But if he adopts a ¡®guide dog¡¯ approach, helping to curate challenging and difficult conversations on campus in a safe, tolerant and respectful way, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 appointment could be very impactful.¡±

Jo Burton, head of higher education policy at 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said 바카라사이트 mission group was hoping for a free speech director who would work with 바카라사이트 sector to build a new system of protections that was robust, easy to navigate for students, staff and speakers, and was proportionate.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com