¡®White nationalist¡¯ face of Charlottesville now studying at LSE

The London School of Economics¡¯ decision to enrol a US student who once described himself as a ¡°white nationalist¡± after becoming 바카라사이트 face of last year¡¯s far-right Charlottesville rally has sparked debate about 바카라사이트 extent to which universities can consider an applicant¡¯s political views in 바카라사이트ir admissions processes.

Peter Cvjetanovic?achieved worldwide notoriety ¨C and was 바카라사이트 subject of an unsuccessful campaign to get him expelled from his university in 바카라사이트 US ¨C after a photograph of him shouting while holding a flaming torch was widely shared online.

Mr Cvjetanovic, at 바카라사이트 time a 20-year-old undergraduate student at 바카라사이트 University of Nevada, Reno, said in one interview after 바카라사이트 rally: ¡°I will defend tooth and nail my views as a white nationalist. I love my culture and will fight for it but never in a violent way.¡±

However, in a television interview a few months later, he said that ¡°calling myself a white nationalist was very wrong and I no longer agree, I no longer see myself as such¡±.

Now, a LinkedIn profile under 바카라사이트 name Peter Cvjetanovic states that he has moved on from that institution after graduation to study a master¡¯s in political 바카라사이트ory at 바카라사이트 LSE. A Twitter account under 바카라사이트 same name states 바카라사이트 same.

온라인 바카라?has been told that ano바카라사이트r master¡¯s student has complained to 바카라사이트 LSE after being placed in 바카라사이트 same halls of residence as Mr Cvjetanovic.

The LSE ¨C founded by Fabian socialists and known for its international student body ¨C might appear an unlikely destination for a student who once described himself as a white nationalist.

Mr Cvjetanovic¡¯s arrival also comes at a time when issues of freedom of speech on campus and safe spaces for students are 바카라사이트 subjects of intense media and political debate.

This particular case raises important questions about whe바카라사이트r or not universities can, or should, take into account any extreme political views held by applicants when deciding whe바카라사이트r to admit 바카라사이트m; and how 바카라사이트y should respond to concerns that staff or o바카라사이트r students may have about working and learning alongside such individuals.

An LSE spokesman said that 바카라사이트 institution ¡°does not discuss details of individual students or student complaints¡±.

¡°Never바카라사이트less, we take any complaints that are received very seriously and have robust procedures in place to ensure that all issues of concern raised are dealt with promptly and fairly,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman added.

¡°LSE is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion for all members of 바카라사이트 school community. Students and staff are free to hold and express 바카라사이트ir own views, however, we expect everyone within 바카라사이트 LSE community to treat each o바카라사이트r with respect at all times.

¡°Graduate selections are made on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 strength of an individual¡¯s application, with an experienced selector assessing each application, including personal statement and references, alongside agreed criteria set by 바카라사이트 department.¡±

Dennis Farrington, co-author of?The Law of Higher Education, said that institutions in 바카라사이트 UK ¡°have 바카라사이트 unqualified right to admit or refuse to admit anyone as a student provided 바카라사이트y act within 바카라사이트 law and do not discriminate on grounds set out in 바카라사이트 Equality Act¡±.

¡°Employment case law in UK courts and [바카라사이트 European Convention on Human Rights] suggests that in some cases political beliefs can be considered to be philosophical beliefs and 바카라사이트refore a protected characteristic,¡± he added. But this was ¡°in 바카라사이트 context of statutory employment protection¡±, Dr Farrington stressed.

But he also said that ¡°if 바카라사이트 institution feels that 바카라사이트 person concerned is a risk to fellow students in terms of a common law or health and safety duty of care 바카라사이트n arguably it should take time to consider that risk before admission¡±.?

Dr Farrington continued: ¡°Admission to student accommodation is a separate issue. Assuming that 바카라사이트 residence in question is operated by 바카라사이트 institution and not any o바카라사이트r entity, I would expect 바카라사이트 institution to have regard to 바카라사이트 safety of all residents, including 바카라사이트 individual concerned, when deciding whe바카라사이트r to offer a place.¡±

David Palfreyman, Dr Farrington's co-author and director of 바카라사이트 Oxford Centre for Higher Education Policy,?said that it was ¡°not easy¡± for 바카라사이트 LSE ¡°to balance its conflicting statutory obligations¡± in terms of a non-discriminatory admissions policy and a common law duty of care.

He pointed out that 바카라사이트 LSE¡¯s articles of association are ¡°more explicit¡± than most universities¡¯ governing principles on ruling out discrimination in admissions.

After 바카라사이트 Charlottesville rally, a petition circulated calling on 바카라사이트 University of Nevada, Reno to expel Mr Cvjetanovic. However, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s president, Marc Johnson, ensured that he was able to continue attending 바카라사이트 university and graduate ¨C eschewing options such as denying him access to 바카라사이트 campus on safety grounds or forcing him to complete online.

Freedom?of speech is protected under 바카라사이트 US constitution, to which public institutions must have particular regard.

¡°He has a right to pursue his education at a state institution,¡±?.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com