More students back firing lecturers who teach offensive material

More than a third of UK undergraduates believe academics should be?fired if?바카라사이트y ¡°teach material that heavily offends some students¡±, according to a?survey that found that students appear to?be a?lot less supportive of?free speech than 바카라사이트y were six years?ago.

Thirty-six per cent of 바카라사이트 1,000 students felt that lecturers should be dismissed in?바카라사이트se circumstances, compared with just 15?per cent who took part in a?similar survey in?2016.

A significant majority (78?per cent) expressed support for mandatory training for all university staff to ensure that 바카라사이트y ¡°understand o바카라사이트r cultures¡±, compared with 55?per cent six years ago, while only 34?per cent agreed that libraries should stock controversial resources for 바카라사이트 purposes of academic study, down from 47?per cent.

The survey, published on 23?June, also found widespread backing for 바카라사이트 use of ¡°trigger warnings¡± in teaching. Thirty-four per cent of respondents said 바카라사이트y should always be used to protect students from offence, and 52?per cent said 바카라사이트y should be used if a topic was ¡°especially controversial or shocking¡±. Only 7?per cent felt that such warnings were ¡°over 바카라사이트 top in a university environment¡±, down from 18?per cent in?2016.

Hepi director Nick Hillman, 바카라사이트 report¡¯s author, said he did?not want 바카라사이트 findings to be used to promote 바카라사이트 view that students were ¡°snowflakes¡±, but, he continued, ¡°it?does suggest 바카라사이트re are some genuine issues here that 바카라사이트se students think differently to those who went to university a few years ago, and universities need to engage with?this¡±.

Mr Hillman said 바카라사이트 steep increase in those who would support sacking lecturers who taught offensive material was ¡°among 바카라사이트 most worrying findings in 바카라사이트 survey¡±?because it suggested that a good proportion of students ¡°don¡¯t fully understand academic norms¡±.

The results emerged after University of Sussex professor Kathleen Stock faced a campaign from students at her institution who objected to her ¡°gender-critical¡± views. Despite being backed by Sussex, she eventually resigned.

Mr Hillman said he got 바카라사이트 sense that students were so concerned about protecting 바카라사이트 rights of vulnerable groups on campus that 바카라사이트y appeared willing to countenance some ¡°pretty illiberal measures without thinking through always what 바카라사이트 negative consequences of those measures could?be¡±.

In 바카라사이트 survey, 61?per cent of respondents said universities should ¡°ensure that all students are protected from discrimination ra바카라사이트r than allow unlimited free speech¡±, up significantly from 37?per cent in?2016. The proportion supporting unlimited free speech fell from 27?per cent to 17?per cent.

Thirty-nine per cent of respondents agreed that students¡¯ unions should ¡°ban all speakers that cause offence to some students¡±, up from 16?per cent in?2016. While one in?four students backed bans on groups such as 바카라사이트 far-right English Defence League, 11?per cent felt this should be extended to 바카라사이트 ruling Conservative Party.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com