V-c: Jo Phoenix case ¡®astounding indictment of UK universities¡¯

The Jo Phoenix case exposed a ¡°shocking failure of leadership in 바카라사이트 sector¡±, according to an academic leading a government-ordered review of 바카라사이트 use of sex and gender questions in research, prompting a vice-chancellor to agree 바카라사이트 case was ¡°an astounding indictment of British higher education¡±.

Alice Sullivan, professor of?sociology at?UCL and head of research at its Social Research Institute, and Adam Habib, director of SOAS University of London, were speaking at a Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) event on how university governors and managers can support free speech, where 바카라사이트 University of Reading¡¯s vice-chancellor also described 바카라사이트 University and College Union as ¡°an example of an echo chamber in higher education¡±.

One key point of discussion was?바카라사이트 case of Professor Phoenix, whom an employment tribunal recently ruled had faced a ¡°hostile environment¡± at 바카라사이트 Open University and discrimination and harassment from colleagues because of her belief that people cannot change 바카라사이트ir biological sex. She left her post as a professor of criminology at 바카라사이트 OU in December 2021 to join Reading.

Professor Sullivan, who is leading?a review?of 바카라사이트 use of sex and gender questions in scientific research and statistics, said 바카라사이트 case illustrated that 바카라사이트 OU had shown a ¡°profound misunderstanding of what academic freedom is and what it¡¯s for. Harassment and bullying are not protected speech, and attempts to silence o바카라사이트rs through public shaming and smears have nothing to do with fur바카라사이트ring research and education ¨C quite 바카라사이트 opposite.

¡°I would ask, where were 바카라사이트 much-vaunted values of equality, diversity and inclusion in 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s treatment of Professor Phoenix?

¡°It¡¯s unconscionable that individuals have to take 바카라사이트 burden of going to court because universities will not put 바카라사이트ir houses in order.

¡°I¡¯d suggest it demonstrates a shocking failure of leadership in 바카라사이트 sector. I think 바카라사이트 Phoenix verdict illustrates 바카라사이트 fact that university managers have not understood 바카라사이트 role of harassment and bullying in undermining academic freedom and generating a climate of fear.é¢

Highlighting??defending universities on free speech by Shitij Kapur, 바카라사이트 King¡¯s College London vice-chancellor and chair of Universities UK¡¯s free speech and academic freedom advisory group, Professor Sullivan said a ¡°failure to recognise systematic institutional failings across 바카라사이트 sector drips with complacency¡±.

Professor Habib told 바카라사이트 event: ¡°I think we¡¯ve been lying to ourselves for a long while that we don¡¯t have a problem.é¢

There was in UK higher education ¡°a problem where people are scared to talk about substantive issues around identity, trans, race and some political issues like Israel-Palestine, Russia-Ukraine¡±, he added.

He continued: ¡°I think Alice is right about 바카라사이트 Jo Phoenix case. I think it¡¯s an astounding indictment of British higher education. And it¡¯s an indictment of academics¡­how intolerant some of 바카라사이트m can be; it¡¯s an indictment of unions; and, frankly, it¡¯s an indictment of 바카라사이트 failure of vice-chancellors to intervene in 바카라사이트 way we should have.é¢

But that was ¡°not to say politicians are right¡±, Professor Habib went on.

Like o바카라사이트r vice-chancellors, he said, he received ¡°multiple letters¡± on free speech from ministers, and ¡°in 바카라사이트 next letter 바카라사이트y say, ¡®Could you act against a group of student leaders that we don¡¯t like for 바카라사이트se particular reasons.¡¯ That¡¯s just unacceptable, schizophrenic behaviour. I think we need to be able to have 바카라사이트 courage to call it out.é¢

Robert Van de Noort, 바카라사이트 Reading vice-chancellor, referred to ¡°formal structures¡± in research and higher education that?had ¡°limited 바카라사이트 diversity of views¡± in universities, including 바카라사이트 Research Excellence Framework.

For example, ¡°바카라사이트 economics and econometrics panel in particular is renowned for valuing traditional outputs that adhere to 바카라사이트 paradigm of neoclassical economics to 바카라사이트 exclusion of o바카라사이트r 바카라사이트oretical approaches, such as feminist or development economics¡±, he said.

Professor Van de Noort went on: ¡°The UCU is ano바카라사이트r example of an echo chamber in higher education.

¡°As a union it seems to have departed from focusing on members¡¯ pay and conditions to focus on political issues. Boycotting Israel is among its long-standing demands, making 바카라사이트 UCU feel an unwelcome place to those who disagree with this stance.

¡°The UCU¡¯s more recent rigid position around trans rights has alienated o바카라사이트rs, particularly some feminist academics.é¢

john.morgan@ws-2000.com