Sussex hit with record OfS fine after ¡®free speech breaches¡¯

The University of Sussex has been issued a record fine by 바카라사이트 English regulator after being accused of breaching its free speech duties over its handling of 바카라사이트 resignation of one of its professors, Kathleen Stock.

An investigation by 바카라사이트 Office for Students that lasted more than three years has finally concluded, finding that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing documents ¡°failed to uphold freedom of speech and academic freedom, as well as failings in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s management and governance processes¡±.

A fine of ?585,000 has been issued ¨C 바카라사이트 largest ever handed out by 바카라사이트 regulator.

Kathleen Stock left her post at 바카라사이트 university after being 바카라사이트 subject of various protests by staff and students over her gender-critical views.

The OfS said it had ¡°seen no evidence to suggest that Professor Stock¡¯s speech during her employment at 바카라사이트 university was unlawful¡±.

The regulator concluded that a ¡°chilling effect¡± arose as a result of 바카라사이트 institution's trans and non-binary equality policy statement, first published in 2018, which led students and staff to ¡°self-censor¡± to avoid disciplinary action ¡°for expressing lawful views¡±.

The OfS identified four specific statements in 바카라사이트 policy that ¡°restricted lawful speech¡± and said 바카라사이트 university failed to include safeguards to protect 바카라사이트 expression of legally protected beliefs, including gender-critical views.

According to 바카라사이트 regulator, 바카라사이트 university lacked ¡°adequate and effective¡± management and governance arrangements to ensure it operated in accordance with governing documents, with 바카라사이트 OfS identifying ¡°a pattern of decisions taken at 바카라사이트 university to adopt and/or revise policies without proper delegated authority¡±.

The case preceded new duties being handed to 바카라사이트 OfS that will allow it to investigate free speech complaints of individuals and so 바카라사이트 investigation focused on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s compliance with 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯s regulatory requirements, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 particular circumstances relating to Professor Stock.

Arif Ahmed, director for freedom of speech and academic freedom at 바카라사이트 OfS, described 바카라사이트 findings as ¡°significant and serious breaches of 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯s requirements¡±.

¡°Substantial monetary penalties are appropriate for 바카라사이트 scale of wrongdoing we have found,¡± he continued. ¡°However, we have significantly discounted 바카라사이트 monetary penalties we initially calculated on this occasion to reflect that this is 바카라사이트 first case of its type we have dealt with.¡±

According to 바카라사이트 case report, 바카라사이트 maximum penalty permitted was??4,647,177 ¨C 2 per cent of 바카라사이트 university's 2023-24 qualifying income.?

In a robust response, Sussex¡¯s vice-chancellor Sasha Roseneil said 바카라사이트 ¡°so-called?investigation¡± had been ¡°flawed and politically motivated¡± and warned that 바카라사이트 ¡°implications for 바카라사이트 higher education sector could be dire¡±.

¡°The OfS?investigation should have been short, focused and straightforward. But for those at Sussex who spent thousands of hours responding to 바카라사이트?many OfS requests for information, 바카라사이트 experience has instead been Kafkaesque,¡± she writes on 바카라사이트?.?

The findings will make it ¡°virtually impossible¡± for universities to protect students and staff from ¡°abuse, harassment, or bullying,¡± Roseneil said in a separate statement shared by 바카라사이트 university, in which she confirmed that 바카라사이트 institution would legally challenge 바카라사이트 regulator.?

¡°The way 바카라사이트 OfS has conducted this investigation has been completely unacceptable, its findings are egregious and concocted, and 바카라사이트 fine that is being imposed on Sussex is wholly disproportionate," she said.

¡°After three and a half years of trawling thousands of pages of paperwork, whilst never interviewing anyone employed by 바카라사이트 University, 바카라사이트 behaviour of 바카라사이트 OfS sets a dangerous precedent and constitutes serious regulatory overreach in service of a politically motivated inquiry.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com