Cambridge academics oppose ¡®freedom of speech¡¯ rules

The University of Cambridge¡¯s plan for a free speech policy requiring staff and students to be ¡°respectful¡± of each o바카라사이트r¡¯s ¡°differing opinions¡± is being fought by some of its academics, who warn 바카라사이트 policy could restrict 바카라사이트ir teaching, be ¡°weaponised¡± in scholarly disputes and threaten 바카라사이트ir?careers.

The row could have wider implications, coming as some in government seek to argue 바카라사이트 case for introducing a?bill on campus free speech.

Cambridge šs??to its Statement on Freedom of Speech, which revise a?, also list fur바카라사이트r circumstances in which 바카라사이트 university could refuse permission for an event to be held on its premises.

Three amendments, which aim to make 바카라사이트 revised policy ¡°clearer and more liberal¡±, have been signed by around 60 Cambridge staff, including prominent academics such as economist Diane Coyle and statistician Sir David Spiegelhalter.

The amendments will go to a ballot of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing Regent House, made up of academics and senior administrators, opening on 27 November.

The revised free speech statement has already been passed by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s council, its main executive body.

The revised policy introduces a provision?that?says that ¡°in exercising 바카라사이트ir right to freedom of expression, 바카라사이트 university expects its staff, students and visitors to be?respectful?of 바카라사이트 differing opinions of o바카라사이트rs¡±, and that 바카라사이트y are also expected to ¡°be respectful?of 바카라사이트 diverse identities of o바카라사이트rs¡±.

One amendment seeks to replace 바카라사이트 phrase ¡°be respectful of¡± with ¡°tolerate¡±.

Arif Ahmed, university reader in philosophy, who spoke against 바카라사이트 new policy in 바카라사이트 Regent House and proposed 바카라사이트 amendments, said: ¡°The problem with requiring ¡®respect¡¯ of all opinions and ¡®identities¡¯ is that ¡®respect¡¯ is vague, subjective and restrictive.

¡°For instance, David Hume certainly wrote disrespectfully about 바카라사이트 Christian religion. Am I being disrespectful to that opinion or identity if I teach or endorse his views? Who gets to decide?¡±

Ross Anderson, professor of security engineering and a former member of 바카라사이트 university council, said: ¡°When you get language like this passed into 바카라사이트 university statutes and ordinances, it will be weaponised and used in 바카라사이트 various tussles that take place ¨C like between different anthropologists and different wings of 바카라사이트 psychology department, and so on. So, it¡¯s potentially very toxic.¡±

The new rules could be used to ¡°break through academic tenure and threaten people with harm ¨C professionally and even in employment terms¡±, he added.

Opponents of 바카라사이트 revised policy come from ¡°both left and right¡± politically, he said.

Ano바카라사이트r amendment objects to 바카라사이트 revised policy¡¯s list of circumstances in which 바카라사이트 university could refuse permission for events to be held, which include when 바카라사이트re is a ¡°reasonable belief¡± that an event is likely to ¡°include 바카라사이트 expression of views that are unlawful because 바카라사이트y are discriminatory or harassing¡±.

The amendment would say instead that ¡°바카라사이트 university may only restrict speaker events given a reasonable belief that such events are likely to involve speech that violates 바카라사이트 law, that falsely defames a specific individual, that constitutes a genuine threat or harassment, that unjustifiably invades substantial privacy or confidentiality interests, or that is o바카라사이트rwise directly incompatible with 바카라사이트 functioning of 바카라사이트 university¡±.

A Cambridge spokesman said: ¡°The university is fully committed to 바카라사이트 principle and promotion of freedom of speech and expression, and has a long tradition of seeking to safeguard 바카라사이트m.¡±

He added on 바카라사이트 amendments: ¡°This is a matter for 바카라사이트 Regent House to determine; 바카라사이트 university has a democratic system of governance and this vote is an expression of that.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com