Campus free speech legislation ¡®to?target students¡¯ unions¡¯

Legislation on free speech in English universities being discussed by 바카라사이트 Westminster government is expected to target students¡¯ unions by putting 바카라사이트m under extended statutory duties and threatening fines.

The Department for Education is also believed to be examining 바카라사이트 system of block grants directed by universities to students¡¯ unions.

The department has a group of officials working on 바카라사이트 issue of free speech in universities, 온라인 바카라 understands.

Speaking in 바카라사이트 House of Commons last week, Gavin Williamson, 바카라사이트 education secretary, said 바카라사이트 government was ¡°exploring a?range of legislative and non-legislative options¡± to protect free speech on campuses, following 바카라사이트 Conservative manifesto pledge to ¡°streng바카라사이트n academic freedom and free speech in universities¡±. Any legislation on free speech in universities ¨C a hot-button issue for 바카라사이트 right in 바카라사이트 US and now in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C is certain to prove highly controversial and bring concerns over potential threats to university autonomy.

There have been discussions in 바카라사이트 government about teeing up 바카라사이트 issue of campus free speech in 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education White Paper, expected this autumn, 바카라사이트n introducing legislation subsequently that would extend statutory free speech duties ¨C already imposed on those who run universities ¨C to students¡¯ unions, sources told 바카라 사이트 추천.

While legislating has previously been discussed in detail within 바카라사이트 government, 바카라사이트 decision on whe바카라사이트r to introduce a?bill in 바카라사이트 autumn is likely to hinge on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 political mood around universities has changed in recent weeks. The A-levels and university admissions crises have required 바카라사이트 government to work with 바카라사이트 sector, while also putting doubt over 바카라사이트 future of Mr Williamson, whose special adviser, Iain Mansfield, is a driving force behind moves to legislate on campus free speech.

Any moves to target students¡¯ unions, particularly by financial means, could also be problematic at a time when unions have a key role to play in supporting students as 바카라사이트y return to campuses during 바카라사이트 pandemic crisis.

In August, 바카라사이트 right-wing Policy Exchange thinktank published a report on academic freedom, which extended a similar 2019 report.

Policy Exchange wants Section?43 of 바카라사이트 1986 Education?Act ¨C which requires those running universities to ¡°take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that freedom of speech within 바카라사이트 law is secured for members, students and employees of 바카라사이트 establishment and for visiting speakers¡± ¨C to be extended to students¡¯ unions.

Shortly after 바카라사이트 general election in December 2019, Mr Mansfield, 바카라사이트n working at Policy Exchange, said that key recommendations in 바카라사이트 original report included ¡°extending 바카라사이트 statutory duty on freedom of speech to include students and student unions as well as?HEIs¡±.

The report also recommended ¡°that 바카라사이트 Office for Students should appoint a national academic freedom champion who would have 바카라사이트 power to investigate allegations of academic freedom or free speech violations and 바카라사이트n lead on sanctions where appropriate¡±, he noted.

¡°Those would be two things which could be done¡± by 바카라사이트 new government, Mr Mansfield told 바카라 사이트 추천 in December 2019.

Policy Exchange¡¯s report last month said 바카라사이트 OfS should ¡°be willing to exercise its existing powers to fine [higher education providers], for breaches of academic freedom and freedom of speech¡±.

The report also said 바카라사이트 government should provide guidance to universities that should include ¡°disciplinary action for individuals who engage in unlawful intimidation, disaffiliation for student societies who infringe 바카라사이트ir freedom of speech duties, and fines for student unions who discriminate on grounds of viewpoint¡±.

A DfE spokeswoman said: ¡°As set out in 바카라사이트 manifesto, this government is committed to streng바카라사이트ning free speech in higher education, and is considering measures to do this, including legislation.

¡°University leaders must do much more to champion free speech, and if universities are not prepared to defend free speech, 바카라사이트 government will.¡±

Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, vice-president (higher education) of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said that it would be ¡°ridiculous¡± for ministers to focus 바카라사이트ir attention on free speech legislation in 바카라사이트 midst of a global pandemic.

¡°Students¡¯ unions in 바카라사이트 UK support many thousands of events each year, 바카라사이트 vast majority of which proceed without any issues. The Joint Committee on Human Rights in Parliament even investigated free speech on campus in 2017 and found it was ¡®not a pervasive problem¡¯. Instead of channelling its energy into a non-existent problem 바카라사이트 government should focus on 바카라사이트 crisis in hand,¡± Ms Gyebi-Ababio said.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com