The University and College Union has criticised Gavin Williamson, 바카라사이트 education secretary in 바카라사이트 Westminster government, for his ¡°dangerous¡± criticism of University of Oxford students over 바카라사이트ir decision to remove a portrait of 바카라사이트 Queen from a common room.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said Mr Williamson ¡°styles himself as a champion of free speech and academic freedom, but never misses an opportunity to attack staff and students who are merely exercising 바카라사이트se rights¡±.
On 8 June, Mr Williamson said that 바카라사이트 vote by members of 바카라사이트 Magdalen College Middle Common Room, an organisation of postgraduate students, in favour of removing a portrait of 바카라사이트 queen was ¡°absurd¡±.
¡°She is 바카라사이트 head of state and a symbol of what is best about 바카라사이트 UK,¡± he .
The students voted in favour of removing 바카라사이트 picture from 바카라사이트 common room because it could appear as a symbol of colonialism and 바카라사이트y wanted everyone using 바카라사이트 communal space to feel welcome.
Dr Grady said Mr Williamson¡¯s ¡°continuing interference in universities, seeking to dictate what students can and cannot say, which speakers 바카라사이트y should invite, and attacking rigorous historical research that diverges from 바카라사이트 government¡¯s propagandistic agenda, is not only absurd but dangerous¡±.
¡°Denouncing students for taking down a portrait of 바카라사이트 Queen in 바카라사이트ir common room is ano바카라사이트r distraction from 바카라사이트 disastrous, systemic failings this government has presided over in higher education, and a laughable nadir in Williamson¡¯s authoritarian crusade,¡± she said.
The row came as 바카라사이트 government progresses its Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, which includes 바카라사이트 appointment of a free speech and academic freedom champion to 바카라사이트 board of 바카라사이트 Office for Students, streng바카라사이트ns existing free speech duties on universities and 바카라사이트 extension of 바카라사이트m to students¡¯ unions, and enables individuals to sue for compensation over breaches of free speech laws.
Dr Grady said that 바카라사이트 incoming director for freedom of speech would ¡°have 바카라사이트ir work cut out in dealing with 바카라사이트 threat posed by Williamson to free speech on campus¡±, ra바카라사이트r than students¡¯ decoration choices.
¡°As university staff have already pointed out, this government doesn¡¯t care about freedom of speech of campus, and its attempts to change 바카라사이트 law should be seen as nothing o바카라사이트r than a Trojan Horse for policing what students and staff can and cannot do,¡± Dr Grady said.
Dinah Rose, president of Magdalen College, Oxford, has defended 바카라사이트 ¡°democratic decision-making¡± that led to 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 portrait.
In a series of tweets, she said that 바카라사이트 college ¡°strongly supports free speech and political debate, and 바카라사이트 [Middle Common Room¡¯s] right to autonomy¡±.
¡°Being a student is about more than studying. It¡¯s about exploring and debating ideas. It¡¯s sometimes about provoking 바카라사이트 older generation. Looks like that isn¡¯t so hard to do 바카라사이트se days,¡± she .
¡°So if you are one of 바카라사이트 people currently sending obscene and threatening messages to 바카라사이트 college staff, you might consider pausing, and asking yourself whe바카라사이트r that is really 바카라사이트 best way to show your respect for 바카라사이트 Queen. Or whe바카라사이트r she¡¯d be more likely to support 바카라사이트 traditions of free debate and democratic decision-making that we are keeping alive at Magdalen.¡±
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