Student politics club wants to bring Brash back
The university club that sparked a free-speech firestorm is still keen to invite the man at the centre of the controversy back.
Former politician Don Brash was banned from Massey University’s Manawatu¯ campus last week. The university cited security concerns, but vice-chancellor Jan Thomas also said some of Brash’s views, and those of the lobby group he founded, Hobson’s Pledge, verged on hate speech.
Brash was to have talked to Massey’s Politics Society about his time as National Party leader, and the society hopes he can still come and take part in the society’s series on the party.
The latest speaker in the series, National MP Chris Bishop, considered pulling out in protest at the Brash decision, but instead decided to make his talk on Wednesday about the importance of free speech. He joined the chorus of criticism about Thomas’ actions. Society president Christian Houghton said the group was pleased to get the talks back on track. It hoped Brash could return without a repeat of last week’s controversy. The society wants to meet with Thomas to discuss Brash’s potential return.
‘‘We just don’t know where the vice-chancellor stands on it, since she stopped commenting publicly,’’ Houghton said. ‘‘We don’t want to waste his time again ... if she hasn’t changed her mind.’’
Massey spokesman James Gardiner said the university wouldn’t oppose Brash returning to speak on campus.
‘‘Of course we wouldn’t. It wasn’t a ban on Brash, it was a cancellation of an event because there was a perceived security threat.’’
Gardiner said if Brash returned, and security concerns were raised again, Massey would do its best to ensure the talk went ahead, as long as police and university security advised it was safe. However, Thomas has said Brash’s leadership of Hobson’s Pledge was a factor in her decision.
‘‘In my opinion, the views expressed by members of Hobson’s Pledge come dangerously close to hate speech. They are certainly not conducive with the university’s strategy of recognising the values of a Tiriti o Waitangiled organisation.’’