Oxford don: Universities are stif ling free speech

A FORMER Oxford principal has accused universities of being complicit in stifling free speech and letting students be ‘ever more censorious’. Baroness Deech, who was principal of St Anne’s College from 1991 to 2004, said too many lecturers were ‘ bowing to students’ whims’ by protecting their ‘right not to be offended’.

The peer said the trend was causing reputational damage to British universities and has called on vicechancellors to intervene.

Speakers have been turned down, newspapers banned from student unions and in one case, sombreros were blocked from the University of East Anglia campus in Norwich in case they offended Mexican students at the freshers’ fair.

A Nietzsche Club was also banned at University College London over fears the students could be indoctri- nated with the 19th century philosopher’s ‘dangerous’ views.

Academic boycotts of Israel have taken place and many student unions have hosted speakers from Cage, who were labelled ‘terror apologists’ in 2015 when they called Islamic State killer Mohammed Emwazi a ‘beautiful young man’.

Two years ago, students at Oxford campaigned unsuccessfully to have a statue of imperialist Cecil Rhodes torn down over claims it upset ethnic minority students.

The Rhodes Must Fall campaign started in South Africa, where a Rhodes statue was removed, and was adopted in Oxford by students who argued his views were incompatible with an ‘inclusive culture’ at the university.

Students also complained that two Oxford balls – themed around the 1920s and the ‘Jazz Age’ – might be offensive because they cele- brated historical periods when society was more sexist and racist.

‘Freedom of speech within the law should be protected, especially in universities,’ the Baroness wrote in a letter to The Times.

‘Yet the university authorities are complicit in allowing the free exchange of ideas to be closed and students are ever more censorious.

‘They claim a right not to be offended, but we cannot secure freedom of expression if we all also maintain a right not to be offended. Lecturers and authorities are bowing to students’ whims.

‘Extremist speakers are not being challenged because the students themselves are silencing the challengers.’

Student unions believe campuses should be ‘ safe spaces’ where students can learn without feeling harassed or troubled.

But critics say the trend has gone too far – and has led to union officials shutting down harmless fun and balanced debate.

The baroness said Oxford failed to act strongly enough against antiSemitic behaviour by its student Labour Club last year.

‘Some Israeli or Jewish students do not get to enjoy the safe space that the National Union of Students guarantees to others.

‘Other universities have rejected the international definition of antiSemitism that distinguishes between criticism of Israel and hate speech against Jews.

‘It is time for the vice-chancellors to respond.’

An Oxford university spokesman said: ‘The university does not tolerate any harassment on grounds of religious belief.

‘When allegations of such harassment are made, they are always investigated thoroughly.

‘The university has, this year, contacted Jewish students to make sure they are aware of the support available.’

‘Silencing challengers’