Student union insists it must vet talk on merits of free speech
SUSSEX University’s student union has told a new “free speech” society that it must submit a guest’s speech in advance for vetting.
Politics undergraduates set up a society called Liberate the Debate to promote free speech and discuss controversial or “conventionally taboo” topics.
But their first speaker, Bill Etheridge, a Ukip MEP, has been effectively “no-platformed” due to what the group claims is a “prohibitive” list of restrictions imposed by the students’ union under its “safe space” policy.
The society was told that Mr Etheridge’s talk about free speech was deemed “medium to high risk” and was only allowed to go ahead if it complied with measures “to ensure the safety of the speaker and of students”.
Liberate the Debate is affiliated to the students’ union, and is bound by its policies, including submitting a list of topics to be discussed, as well as an advance copy of the speech so it can be vetted to comply with the union’s “zero tolerance” and “safe space” policies.
Mr Etheridge said it would be “absolute hypocrisy” to agree to the restrictions. “I find it so ironic because all I want to do is discuss free speech,” he said. “I have spoken at other universities and had a rough ride from the students, which is what I expect. But I’ve never before had a university make it impossible for me to attend.”
Peter Anson, a second year Politics and International Relations student, said he founded Liberate the Debate society to promote free speech on campus.
“There is an increasing student culture where they feel justified in using physical or violent methods to stop speakers,” he said. “This will ultimately hurt the integrity of the university.”
Mr Anson said the restrictions on the event meant the society would look to host the event off-campus.
David Kurten, Ukip’s education spokesman, said: “The suggestion that students’ safety is at risk from choosing to go and listen to an MEP is ridiculous.”
Frida Gustafsson, president of the Sussex students’ union, said: “We welcome anybody to speak, provided they are willing to participate in a balanced debate with students and we can ensure the event can safely and lawfully take place.”