Now students ban aggressive head shaking in debates

STUDENTS at a leading British university have banned head-shaking and hand gestures during debates – in case it scares rival speakers.

In the latest crackdown in the name of ‘safe spaces’, an Edinburgh University student leader faced a vote to eject her from a meeting after raising her hand.

But Imogen Wilson, 22, who helped introduce the controversial policy, was allowed to stay following a 33 to 18 vote in her favour in Thursday’s meeting.

Other students moved to condemn the ban on gesticulation as ‘pathetic’ and claimed it amounts to an infringement of the freedom of expression.

The bans on negative gestures were imposed as part of Edinburgh University Student Union’s (EUSA) ‘safe space’ policy.

During Thursday’s debate, Ms Wilson, EUSA’s vice president for academic affairs, faced a ‘safe space’ complaint for raising her arm to indicate disagreement with a speaker.

Students also accused her of making a ‘negative head motion’ during the debate.

Miss Wilson said: ‘I accept that my position in the room, on stage, and as a sabb[ atical officer], meant that my gestures could have been considered intimidating.’

But the policy, and the incident, have baffled many students at the university.

Philosophy student, Charlie Peters, 19, said: ‘Edinburgh students voted on kicking out our VP of Academic Affairs because she nodded at someone’s speech.

‘Safe spaces now censor “inappropriate hand gestures” - my university is becoming pathetic.

‘Eighteen people actually voted to have her kicked out and thought the whole thing was a good idea. It’s madness. Imogen kept defending the policy and now she’s become a target of her own whole censorial madness.’

Another student tweeted: ‘I think it’s ludicrous to threaten with exclusion from meeting for hand and head gestures.’

The policy states: ‘Gestures indicating agreement are permissible, if these gestures are generally understood and not used in an intimidating manner.

‘Disagreements should only be evident through the normal course of debate.

‘Refrain from hand gestures which denote disagreement or in any other way indicating disagreement with a point or points being made.’

EUSA President, Jonny RossTatam said: ‘A complaint was made via our safe space policy about a student making an “inappropriate hand gesture” during a debate.

‘By majority vote, students in the room dismissed the complaint, the students remained and the meeting continued as normal.’

‘The policy is madness’