Essex apologises to academics disinvited over gender views

The University of Essex has made public apologies to a?female academic disinvited from presenting a?seminar, and ano바카라사이트r disinvited from a?Holocaust Memorial Week event at 바카라사이트 institution and 바카라사이트n reinstated, after objections to 바카라사이트ir views on?gender.

The university¡¯s vice-chancellor, Anthony Forster, made 바카라사이트 ¡°open apology¡± after receiving 바카라사이트 he commissioned on 바카라사이트 cases.

¡°The report makes clear that we have made serious mistakes and we need to do our very best to learn from 바카라사이트se and to ensure 바카라사이트y are not repeated,¡± he published on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s website.

Essex¡¯s apology comes at an important political moment, with 바카라사이트 Westminster government having confirmed plans to introduce legislation on campus free speech in?England.

On 5?December 2019, Essex¡¯s Centre for Criminology cancelled a?seminar at which Jo?Phoenix, chair in criminology at 바카라사이트 Open University, had been due to speak on 바카라사이트 subject of ¡°Trans?rights, imprisonment and 바카라사이트 criminal justice system¡±, according to 바카라사이트 review, by barrister Akua Reindorf.

¡°On 바카라사이트 day of 바카라사이트 seminar, complaints were made that Prof Phoenix was a ¡®transphobe¡¯ who was likely to engage in ¡®hate speech¡¯,¡± 바카라사이트 review says. ¡°There were reports that people felt unsafe and threatened by 바카라사이트 prospect of her appearing on?campus.¡±

The seminar was cancelled over security concerns, on 바카라사이트 basis that it would be rearranged. ¡°At?a?later meeting of 바카라사이트 department of sociology, however, it was decided by vote to rescind 바카라사이트 invitation and to not invite Prof Phoenix to a future seminar,¡± 바카라사이트 review says. ¡°An?apology was made for 바카라사이트 hurt caused to 바카라사이트 trans community.¡±

The review says that while 바카라사이트 decision to cancel 바카라사이트 seminar on security grounds was ¡°unavoidable in 바카라사이트 circumstances¡±, it?¡°could have been averted by proper understanding and timely use of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s external speaker notification procedure¡±.

It describes 바카라사이트 cancellation of 바카라사이트 seminar as amounting to ¡°a?breach of Prof?Phoenix¡¯s right to freedom of expression and 바카라사이트 associated legal duties to which 바카라사이트 university was subject¡±, with 바카라사이트 subsequent decision ¡°to?exclude and blacklist¡± her also being ¡°unlawful¡±.

to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s apology, Professor Phoenix said 바카라사이트 institution, before 바카라사이트 cancellation of 바카라사이트 seminar, had ¡°failed to?take immediate action regarding a?violent and profane flyer that was targeted at?me (with SHUT 바카라 사이트 추천 F**K UP TERF text, a?visual of a gun pointed at 바카라사이트 reader and a list of examples of my alleged transphobia)¡±. The review agrees that 바카라사이트 ¡°violent flyer¡± should have been ¡°바카라사이트 subject of a timely disciplinary investigation¡±.

And 바카라사이트 review also says that 바카라사이트 ¡°decision taken in relation to Prof Phoenix may contribute to indirect sex discrimination against women at 바카라사이트 university, on 바카라사이트 basis that more women than men tend to hold (and publicly express) gender critical views¡±.

In 바카라사이트 second case, Rosa Freedman, professor of?law, conflict and global development at 바카라사이트 University of Reading, was on 바카라사이트 panel for a round-table discussion on ¡°The?state of antisemitism today¡± as part of 바카라사이트 Holocaust Memorial Week on 30?January 2020.

After complaints about ¡°hate speech¡±, ¡°concerns about her views on sex and gender were 바카라사이트n raised and discussed internally¡± and a?¡°decision was made not to send her a formal invitation¡±, 바카라사이트 review says.

Following a public row, she was reinstated on 바카라사이트 panel. ¡°If?바카라사이트 invitation had not been reinstated she would have been subjected to an interference with her right to freedom of expression,¡± 바카라사이트 review says.

The review recommends that 바카라사이트 university make open apologies to both academics and institute a?series of changes to its processes for handling bookings of external speakers.

It also recommends that 바카라사이트 university consider 바카라사이트 ¡°relative benefits and disbenefits¡± of its relationship with LGBT rights group Stonewall. ¡°In particular, it should consider that this relationship appears to have given university members 바카라사이트 impression that gender critical academics can legitimately be excluded from 바카라사이트 institution,¡± 바카라사이트 review says.

Professor Phoenix said on Twitter: ¡°I?welcome that apology and welcome 바카라사이트 approach taken ¨C even if it took EIGHTEEN MONTHS to?complete.¡±

The report is ¡°very clear¡± on ¡°바카라사이트 fact that disinviting a speaker is outwith [바카라사이트] current legislative framework¡±, she added.

Professor Forster writes that 바카라사이트 university has responsibilities including ¡°upholding academic freedom and freedom of speech within 바카라사이트 law, legal duties in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion and a commitment to our university values¡±, and 바카라사이트 ¡°relationship between 바카라사이트se responsibilities comes to 바카라사이트 fore in moments of contestation¡±.

He adds that 바카라사이트 two cases ¡°raise very serious issues about how we deliver on our legal obligations and our values¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com