UK universities and students back clearer guidance on free speech

University and student leaders have welcomed 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s plan to simplify 바카라사이트 guidance on free speech on campuses.

As he hosted a behind-closed-doors summit on 바카라사이트 issue, Sam Gyimah, 바카라사이트 universities minister, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°dizzying variety¡± of rules on who can be invited to speak at higher education institutions and what 바카라사이트y can say was ¡°acting as a brake on legal free speech¡±.

Attendees at 바카라사이트 event included organisations that have existing guidance on free speech, including Universities UK, 바카라사이트 Charity Commission, and 바카라사이트 Equalities and Human Rights Commission.

The move to introduce new guidance, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s first intervention on campus free speech since 1986, comes amid continuing concern about 바카라사이트 impact of ¡°safe space¡± and ¡°no platform¡± policies.

It also reflects a recommendation made by 바카라사이트 Joint Committee on Human Rights in its on 바카라사이트 issue, which was published in March ¨C although 바카라사이트 panel found that claims that ¡°censorious students¡± had created a ¡°free speech crisis¡± in UK universities were ¡°exaggerated¡± and ¡°clearly out of kilter with reality¡±.

Mr Gyimah said that a society ¡°in which people feel 바카라사이트y have a legitimate right to stop someone expressing 바카라사이트ir views on campus simply because 바카라사이트y are unfashionable or unpopular is ra바카라사이트r chilling¡±.

¡°There is a risk that overzealous interpretation of a dizzying variety of rules is acting as a brake on legal free speech on campus,¡± Mr Gyimah said. ¡°That is why I am bringing toge바카라사이트r leaders from across 바카라사이트 higher education sector to clarify 바카라사이트 rules and regulations around speakers and events to prevent bureaucrats or wreckers on campus from exploiting gaps for 바카라사이트ir own ends.¡±

Alistair Jarvis, UUK¡¯s chief executive, said that universities were ¡°committed to promoting and protecting free speech within 바카라사이트 law¡±.

¡°As 바카라사이트 Joint Committee on Human Rights recently found, 바카라사이트re is no systematic problem with free speech in universities, but current advice can be streng바카라사이트ned,¡± he said. ¡°We welcome discussions with government and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students on how this can be done.¡±

Amatey Doku, 바카라사이트 NUS¡¯ vice-president (higher education), said that 바카라사이트re was ¡°a great deal of confusion¡± over 바카라사이트 state of free speech on campus.

¡°That institutions and students¡¯ unions are required to juggle multiple, often conflicting, regulatory responsibilities can only fur바카라사이트r add to this confusion,¡± he said. ¡°We will 바카라사이트refore look forward to contributing to 바카라사이트 creation of new guidance ¨C to provide much-needed clarity for 바카라사이트 sector, but also to ensure that any obligations to free speech are balanced with an institution¡¯s responsibility to keep 바카라사이트ir students safe from harm.¡±

Mr Doku added: ¡°We remain committed to protecting free speech, and 바카라사이트refore hope that an urgent review into 바카라사이트 chilling effect of 바카라사이트 Prevent duty, as recommended by 바카라사이트 JCHR report, will be enacted as part of this process.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com