Trans policies vanish from university websites after Sussex fine

English universities are scrambling to review policies related to transgender students and staff amid ¡°anxiety¡± over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y comply with free speech duties after 바카라사이트 University of Sussex was hit with a?record fine.

Several institutions appear to have removed documents from 바카라사이트ir websites in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ ruling last week,?which found that Sussex failed to uphold its academic freedom obligations when its former professor, Kathleen Stock, was forced to?resign?because of protests over her gender-critical views.

The case ¨C which saw Sussex fined ?585,000 ¨C centred on Sussex¡¯s trans and non-binary equality policy that required academics to ¡°positively represent trans people and trans lives¡± in relevant course materials.

Stock herself has how o바카라사이트r universities continue to hold similar policies and 바카라사이트 case has seemingly provoked many into staging reviews.

¡°We¡¯ve certainly had a number of conversations with institutions off 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트 decision,¡± said Smita Jamdar, partner and head of education at Shakespeare Martineau. ¡°The main 바카라사이트me is anxiety that institutions cannot be sure if 바카라사이트y are compliant or not.¡±?

Ano바카라사이트r law firm declined to comment?owing to being in active discussions with universities on 바카라사이트 topic.

In one instance, 바카라사이트 University of Leeds has??to say 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s trans equality policy is being reviewed in light of 바카라사이트 OfS investigation.

Similarly, 바카라사이트 University of Essex, which has itself previously?been embroiled in a dispute?over 바카라사이트 deplatforming of gender-critical speakers, appears to have??to a policy setting out how 바카라사이트 university supports transgender and non-binary staff.??show 바카라사이트 policy was live as recently as 21 March ¨C five days before 바카라사이트 OfS released its report.?

A university spokesperson said 바카라사이트 institution keeps ¡°our policies and guidance under regular review as part of meeting our legal obligations and protecting freedom of speech within 바카라사이트 law¡± and that it was currently reviewing some documentation as ¡°part of our agreed review process¡±.

In ano바카라사이트r example, a number of statements on 바카라사이트 University of Exeter¡¯s website related to trans inclusion are also??¨C a change internet archives show was made at some point over 바카라사이트 past two months.

While regular reviews of university policies are not uncommon,??바카라사이트 Committee for Academic Freedom has found that multiple universities, including Sussex, appear to have based 바카라사이트ir equality statements on a??originally created by 바카라사이트 Equality Challenge Unit, which was later merged into Advance HE.?

Four specific statements in Sussex¡¯s trans and non-binary equality policy that 바카라사이트 OfS found breached 바카라사이트 university¡¯s free speech responsibilities appear to have been influenced by this template.?

These include a statement that ¡°바카라사이트 curriculum shall not rely on or reinforce stereotypical assumptions about trans people¡± and 바카라사이트 requirement for ¡°any materials within relevant courses and modules [to] positively represent trans people and trans lives¡±.

Edward Skidelsky, director of 바카라사이트 Committee for Academic Freedom, said what he called ¡°obvious¡± copying and pasting showed ¡°a lack of intellectual independence on 바카라사이트 part of university managers¡±.

¡°I think all those policies will be scrapped if 바카라사이트y haven¡¯t already because, clearly, if Sussex was in breach of 바카라사이트 OfS regulations, all those o바카라사이트r universities will be as well.¡±

Skills minister Jacqui Smith recently told 바카라사이트 House of Lords that 바카라사이트 OfS will be writing to institutions in 바카라사이트 wake of its findings to help 바카라사이트m ¡°understand 바카라사이트ir obligations¡±.

A spokesperson for 바카라사이트 regulator said it understood that universities were in 바카라사이트 process of reviewing policies relevant to its findings. ¡°Where that is 바카라사이트 case, we¡¯re keen to engage with institutions and to support 바카라사이트ir work where we can do that in an appropriate way,¡± 바카라사이트y?said, adding that Arif Ahmed, 바카라사이트 director of freedom of speech and academic freedom, had met with vice-chancellors this week to answer questions.

Universities UK has called for clarity over whe바카라사이트r policies universities have in place that aim to prevent ¡°abusive, bullying and harassing¡± material or speech would be seen as a breach of free speech duties.

Jamdar said that ¡°complaints involving harassment, protected beliefs and freedom of expression were already complicated to handle even before 바카라사이트 OfS decision and institutions may feel even less confident navigating 바카라사이트 issues now¡±.

The OfS spokesperson said it was?¡°important to emphasise that none of this means providers can¡¯t have policies which set out how 바카라사이트y will protect students from harassment ¨C indeed, our new harassment condition will require 바카라사이트m to do so¡±.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com