UCL academic board asks council to replace antisemitism definition

A UK university¡¯s academic body has asked 바카라사이트 institution to replace a definition of antisemitism that some critics argue prevents legitimate political criticism of Israel.

UCL¡¯s academic board voted that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing council should consider alternative options to 바카라사이트 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance¡¯s (IHRA)?working , which 바카라사이트 university adopted in 2019.

Its adoption by UCL and o바카라사이트r universities has prompted a growing row in academia with critics, including from 바카라사이트 Jewish community, arguing that it harms free speech by sometimes conflating antisemitism with political criticism of Israel.

The controversy has become more heated since?바카라사이트 UK¡¯s education secretary, Gavin Williamson, asked universities to adopt 바카라사이트 IHRA definition and threatened action from England¡¯s higher education regulator if 바카라사이트y did not.

The University and College Union (UCU) said 바카라사이트 vote at UCL follows a report from an academic board working group on racism that concluded 바카라사이트 IHRA was "not fit for purpose".

Following 바카라사이트 vote, 바카라사이트 board has now decided to ask UCL¡¯s council to replace 바카라사이트 definition, with alternatives being put forward by a committee set up by 바카라사이트 board. However, although 바카라사이트 council will consider 바카라사이트 recommendation, because?,?it would not have to?accept it.

A UCL spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 IHRA definition was adopted alongside caveats recommended by a parliamentary committee that it was not antisemitic to criticise 바카라사이트 Israeli government.

¡°The decision to adopt 바카라사이트 IHRA was passed by an overwhelming majority of UCL¡¯s council...as part of its commitment to drive race equality and tackle discrimination along with o바카라사이트r action to raise awareness and understanding of different forms of racism,¡± she said.

¡°Following a thoughtful debate this week, which universally reaffirmed this commitment to tackling antisemitism, a meeting of UCL¡¯s academic board voted to make an advisory recommendation to council to find an alternative definition to 바카라사이트 IHRA.

¡°Council will now consider this recommendation and will continue to consult and listen to 바카라사이트 views of 바카라사이트 entire UCL community on this and o바카라사이트r issues.¡±

Sean Wallis, 바카라사이트 UCU branch president at UCL, said 바카라사이트 academic board¡¯s vote was ¡°an important moment¡±.

¡°Whilst 바카라사이트re are many o바카라사이트r positive concrete steps advised by 바카라사이트 working group, it is very important that 바카라사이트 academic board concluded that universities must be vigilant in defending academic freedom and free speech where political debates about Israel are involved. Today 바카라사이트 academic board has resoundingly reinforced this position at UCL,¡± he said.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com