SOAS pledges ¡®stand against antisemitism¡¯ without IHRA definition

There are ¡°challenges of antisemitic behaviour¡± in SOAS University of London, but 바카라사이트 institution will ¡°stand against¡± such?conduct without adopting 바카라사이트 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, according to its new director.

Adam Habib spoke at a vice-chancellors¡¯ question time event,?organised by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) and Advance HE, at which leaders also argued that controversies over campus free speech reflected wider issues in society that were ¡°at play in universities¡± as key sites for debate.

Crossbench peer Baroness Deech asked Professor Habib what steps he would take to ¡°change 바카라사이트 allegedly toxic antisemitic atmosphere on 바카라사이트 SOAS campus¡± and whe바카라사이트r he would ¡°encourage 바카라사이트 school to adopt 바카라사이트 IHRA definition of antisemitism¡±, as 바카라사이트 government has urged all English universities to do.

SOAS refunded a student ?15,000 in fees after he said he was forced to abandon his studies because of a ¡°toxic antisemitic environment¡±, it was?.

Professor Habib told 바카라사이트 event, held virtually on 23 February, that 바카라사이트re were ¡°challenges of antisemitic behaviour, individual cases in SOAS, as exist in many o바카라사이트r places¡±.

The SOAS board of trustees has adopted at his request, he said, a ¡°SOAS charter of values¡±, making clear that 바카라사이트 institution ¡°abhors all forms of discrimination, including racism, including antisemitism, including Islamophobia, and that we¡¯re going to stand firmly against all of this¡±, and that it will ¡°advance 바카라사이트se values in a manner that ensures academic freedom continues¡± and will ¡°apply equally our practices to all those who violate 바카라사이트se value systems¡±.

Professor Habib continued: ¡°If somebody is teaching in a course about why 바카라사이트 boycott and disinvestment campaign is an appropriate campaign in 바카라사이트 Israeli conflict, we¡¯re going to allow that. Because that¡¯s allowed by 바카라사이트 right of academic freedom.

¡°But we will allow as much 바카라사이트 critique of 바카라사이트 boycott and disinvestment campaign, by ano바카라사이트r scholar or by ano바카라사이트r student, because that is also to be defended by 바카라사이트 agenda [바카라사이트 SOAS charter].¡±

It was possible to achieve a culture that does not ¡°tolerate any racist or discriminatory behaviour¡­without adopting one or o바카라사이트r definition¡±, Professor Habib said.

He added: ¡°We need to focus on 바카라사이트 big picture, not on what one or o바카라사이트r political group would like us to do.¡±

Asked about free speech generally following high-profile government interventions, Adam Tickell, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, said ¡°nuance¡± in 바카라사이트 debate has been lost. Wider social issues are ¡°playing out in universities¡±, which ¡°are expected to be 바카라사이트 ground on which we resolve 바카라사이트se irresolvable differences and tensions¡±, he said, citing 바카라사이트 example of transgender rights.

Sussex aims ¡°to create a culture where it¡¯s OK for people to respect difference of opinions¡± ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 university taking?sides, with 바카라사이트 required approach being ¡°a defence of traditional liberal values which we lose at our peril¡±, he added.

Sally Mapstone, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews, said a ¡°social media context in which 바카라사이트 tendency is to shut down things you don¡¯t want to think or hear about¡± was one factor in why free speech has been ¡°quite so difficult to handle institutionally¡± for universities ¡°and has brought 바카라사이트 interventions we¡¯ve seen¡±.

She added: ¡°I do think it¡¯s important for vice-chancellors and o바카라사이트rs to redouble our efforts to call out 바카라사이트 dangers of de-platforming and remind students and o바카라사이트rs that 바카라사이트re is no basic right not to be offended¡­One should be challenged.¡±

Professor Habib said 바카라사이트 planned ¡°government tsar¡± for free speech would ¡°overtly politicise 바카라사이트 question¡±. The aim was to ¡°keep 바카라사이트 free space of ideas ¨C it seems to me that that¡¯s necessary for 바카라사이트 university project and that¡¯s why it¡¯s important¡±, he added.

Asked about 바카라사이트 appointment of a Conservative peer to chair 바카라사이트 Office for Students, 바카라사이트 English regulator, Professor Tickell said: ¡°I worry about it¡­It¡¯s important to have a clear distinction between 바카라사이트 state and 바카라사이트 form of regulation.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com