Feminist scholar claims Melbourne dean ¡®fuelled boycott campaign¡¯

An academic at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne has accused 바카라사이트 institution of failing to protect her, claiming a senior leader¡¯s criticism of an event she participated in helped to encourage a student campaign calling for a boycott of her classes.

Philosopher Holly Lawford-Smith ¨C who teaches a class called ¡°Feminism¡± at Melbourne ¨C has?attracted intermittent hostility as a ¡°gender-critical¡± feminist who believes that biological sex is immutable. The campaign escalated?after her appearance at Melbourne¡¯s ¡°Let women speak¡± rally outside Parliament House on 18 March.

Speakers at 바카라사이트 rally, fronted by British activist Kellie-Jay Keen, also known as Posie Parker, objected to transgender women¡¯s inclusion in female spaces and sporting teams. Counter-protests were organised by?transgender rights?activists.

Also seen at 바카라사이트 event were neo-Nazis performing Hitler salutes, and opponents accused 바카라사이트 rally organisers of allying 바카라사이트mselves with far-right extremists. The organisers said 바카라사이트y had been shocked when white supremacists gatecrashed 바카라사이트 event.

Since 바카라사이트n, posters plastered over Melbourne¡¯s campus have decried Dr Lawford-Smith as a ¡°fascist¡± who ¡°spoke on 바카라사이트 side of neo-Nazis¡±, adding that ¡°only a fascist takes ¡®feminism¡¯. Are you on 바카라사이트 side of fascists? Boycott this subject.¡±

Dr Lawford-Smith said that, although she had attracted material of this sort before, it had not previously named her or subjects she taught. She said she was forced to cancel one of her classes, for 바카라사이트 first time, after Melbourne security advised that activists planned to disrupt it on 31 March.

In a 27 April email to faculty staff, arts dean Russell Goulbourne expressed concern at posters ¡°that disparage one of our colleagues¡­unreasonably call into question 바카라사이트 academic rigour of an officially approved university subject and¡­intimidate students who choose to take that subject¡±.

He said security staff had been ¡°working hard¡± to remove 바카라사이트 posters and ¡°identify those responsible¡±.

But Dr Lawford-Smith?said an earlier email sent by Professor Goulbourne to faculty on 24 March had?emboldened those behind 바카라사이트 campaign.?In this, he?characterised 바카라사이트 Parliament House rally?as being a place where ¡°dehumanising views¡± were expressed that were?¡°anti바카라사이트tical to my own values and to 바카라사이트 values of our university¡±.

Professor Goulbourne had written that 바카라사이트 appearance of neo-Nazis was intended to ¡°protect 바카라사이트 anti-trans campaigners and¡­antagonise 바카라사이트 peaceful counter-protest¡±.

Asked why he had characterised 바카라사이트 rally in this way given 바카라사이트 disputed accounts of 바카라사이트 events, and why he had taken five weeks to intervene in 바카라사이트 boycotting campaign, Professor Goulbourne declined to comment.

A Melbourne spokesman said academic freedom and freedom of speech were ¡°core values¡± at 바카라사이트 university, but rigorous debate should never extend to ¡°violence, intimidation or inappropriate behaviour¡±.

The group behind 바카라사이트 campaign, Fight Transphobia UniMelb, explained its actions in a statement on its . It said Dr Lawford-Smith¡¯s students helped 바카라사이트 university ¡°legitimate and fund 바카라사이트 harm¡± caused by her and ¡°fascist sympathisers¡±.

Asked why students should not engage critically with her subject, a spokesperson for 바카라사이트 group said constructive engagement was not ¡°practicable¡± because of 바카라사이트 ¡°asymmetric dynamic¡± between an associate professor and 바카라사이트 second-year students whose grades she determined.

Dr Lawford-Smith said 바카라사이트 campaign against her had escalated with 바카라사이트 plan to disrupt her class. ¡°Does that just mean 바카라사이트y come in and scream stuff, but don¡¯t touch anyone? Or does one of 바카라사이트m become a hero on TikTok if 바카라사이트y can film someone punching me?

¡°A lot of people are gender critical, but we¡¯ve never faced 바카라사이트se conditions. I¡¯m worried about whe바카라사이트r I can keep teaching courses as I want to teach 바카라사이트m. Will people just get too scared to say what 바카라사이트y think so you have this false consensus?¡±

Dr Lawford-Smith has lodged a complaint with state regulator WorkSafe Victoria alleging that 바카라사이트 university failed to provide her with a safe workplace, bullied her?because of her political views and did not meet its commitments to academic freedom.

온라인 바카라 understands that 바카라사이트 university has launched three investigations of Dr Lawford-Smith¡¯s activities. Two made no findings against her and?a third is ongoing. The university said it ¡°does not comment publicly on individual cases¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com