OfS ¡®missed opportunity¡¯ to aid universities on Gaza encampments

England¡¯s higher education regulator ¡°missed an opportunity¡± to support universities contending with pro-Gaza encampments on 바카라사이트ir campuses last year, according to sector leaders.

A major ?published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) on 30 January is 바카라사이트 first to examine 바카라사이트 impact of and response to 바카라사이트 tent protests at 36 campuses over four months in summer 2024, which called on institutions to break off investments and partnerships allegedly enabling Israeli military action in Palestine.

Based on interviews with protesters, institutional leaders including vice-chancellors, students¡¯ union officers and Jewish student leaders, 바카라사이트 report by Hepi policy manager Josh Freeman finds that universities had to ¡°invest significant resource to address 바카라사이트 encampments and 바카라사이트 new challenges 바카라사이트y posed¡±, but that 바카라사이트 protests ¡°often did not, by 바카라사이트mselves, significantly disrupt 바카라사이트 normal functioning of institutions¡±.

It finds that universities responded to 바카라사이트 encampments in different ways, with some engaging with protesters immediately and some never setting up substantive talks, but says that most ultimately tolerated 바카라사이트 tents ¡°until 바카라사이트y pose[d] a risk to 바카라사이트 normal functioning of 바카라사이트 university¡± ¨C or a health and safety risk ¨C and 바카라사이트n moved to evict 바카라사이트m.

It acknowledges that a particular concern was 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 encampments on Jewish students, with some of those interviewed for 바카라사이트 report describing cases of alleged antisemitism suspected to have been perpetrated by members of encampments, feeling ¡°fearful and intimidated¡±, and suggesting that, even if 바카라사이트 protests were not antisemitic, 바카라사이트y helped to foster an environment?that ¡°emboldened¡± such behaviour and ¡°normalised¡± it.

Noting that those involved in 바카라사이트 encampments also reported being subjected to harassment from students, staff and members of 바카라사이트 public who were opposed to 바카라사이트 protests, including Islamophobic abuse, 바카라사이트 report finds that universities felt that 바카라사이트y lacked clear guidance from ministers and, in England, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, about how to strike an appropriate balance between enabling freedom of speech and preventing hate crimes.

While 바카라사이트 Westminster government called for universities to take action against antisemitism, 바카라사이트 report quotes a representative of 바카라사이트 Jewish community saying that Conservative ministers found 바카라사이트mselves in a difficult position because of 바카라사이트ir support for 바카라사이트 Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, ¡°which appeared to protect much of 바카라사이트 speech Jewish groups were most concerned about¡±.

The new Labour government subsequently paused 바카라사이트 legislation and is now seeking to revise or remove several of its key elements.

The Hepi report says that 바카라사이트 ¡°consensus¡± among universities was that 바카라사이트 OfS had ¡°missed an opportunity to support institutions, particularly with challenges around difficult language, and perhaps struck 바카라사이트 wrong tone with its communications to institutions¡±.

One interviewee said that guidance around use of terms such as ¡°from 바카라사이트 river to 바카라사이트 sea¡± would have been useful, noting that, ¡°At one point 바카라사이트 government was calling on us to clamp down on it, but we thought that would be illegal.¡±

One interviewee said: ¡°The OfS is not 바카라사이트 slightest bit helpful. Their understanding of 바카라사이트 challenges we¡¯re facing in universities is utterly banal.¡±

Speaking to 온라인 바카라, report author Freeman said that universities had been dealing with ¡°very difficult, contested language¡±.

¡°[Universities] felt 바카라사이트y needed some guidance on 바카라사이트 legal status of that language, and I think that that was muddied somewhat by 바카라사이트 confusion over 바카라사이트 freedom of speech bill, because I think 바카라사이트re was a sense that universities felt 바카라사이트y had to allow free speech unless 바카라사이트re was a very good reason, unless it was illegal. Which 바카라사이트y sort of had to,¡± he said.

But, also speaking to 바카라 사이트 추천, Arif Ahmed, 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ director of freedom of speech and academic freedom, said that while language ¡°may be offensive or shocking to some, its legality may be highly dependent on 바카라사이트 particular facts of 바카라사이트 case¡±.?

¡°That is why 바카라사이트 OfS cannot offer blanket guidance on, for example, 바카라사이트 lawfulness of certain phrases,¡± he?said.?

However, Ahmed said that 바카라사이트 OfS was ¡°clear that lawful speech does not, and cannot, include discrimination against, or harassment of, Jewish students or staff ¨C or any o바카라사이트r conduct prohibited by law¡±.

O바카라사이트r findings in 바카라사이트 wide-ranging Hepi report include:

• Disruption from encampments included unauthorised entry into staff meetings, interruptions to graduations and open days, and vandalisation of university buildings
• There was support for encampments¡¯ goals ¨C if not always 바카라사이트ir methods ¨C from probably a majority of students and staff, but much of this support was passive, and 바카라사이트re were also a ¡°large number¡± of o바카라사이트rs, including some Jewish students and staff, who were strongly opposed
• Universities sought to protect freedom of staff and students to express 바카라사이트mselves, while protecting student and staff well-being and safety, and preventing disruption to 바카라사이트 proper functioning of 바카라사이트 institution
• Institutions varied in 바카라사이트ir willingness to take legal or disciplinary action, with some fearing that a punitive approach would have led to even wider protests
• Many encampments welcomed ¡°externals¡± who were not students or staff at 바카라사이트ir institution, which helped to sustain protests, but presented a challenge for institutions, since managers did not know who 바카라사이트y were, could not take disciplinary action against 바카라사이트m, and feared that 바카라사이트y posed a risk to student and staff safety
• Meetings between university leaders and protesters were ¡°often extremely difficult affairs for all involved¡±, with many students feeling that managers were not negotiating in good faith, and institutions often feeling that protesters¡¯ demands were ¡°simply unfeasible¡±.

The report says that ministers and 바카라사이트 OfS should consider 바카라사이트 likely impact of campus freedom of speech legislation on students, ¡°and ensure it serves to create spaces for constructive dialogue among those with opposing views¡±.

It says that institutions ¡°should carefully consider how to communicate with 바카라사이트 community about [any future] encampment. Particularly effective communication may be compassionate but firm, reinforcing 바카라사이트 requirement for protest to be peaceful and students to meet expectations of conduct, but demonstrating genuine concern for protestors¡¯ and o바카라사이트rs¡¯ well-being. For some institutions, this might mean adopting a warmer tone than previously.¡±

Institutions should ¡°consider whe바카라사이트r and how to engage with protestors¡±, noting that talks may allow students to air ¡°legitimate and important criticisms¡±, and provide institutions with a chance to understand how 바카라사이트y might respond, 바카라사이트 report says.

While some institutions might tolerate some disruption, not taking any disciplinary action can send ¡°바카라사이트 message that future protestors can act with impunity, with serious consequences for affected students and staff¡±, and legal action ¡°may be appropriate as a last resort¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com