University drops ‘gagging clause’ as condition of grant

EDiNBURGH University has agreed to amend a controversial contract which prevented student leaders speaking out about the institution without warning management first.

As a condition of a £2.3 million grant, the university told its students’ association it needed 48 hours’ notice of any “detrimental” statements or publications. The university inserted the clause when awarding Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) the money in July.

But after criticism from students, who dubbed it a “gagging clause”, the university yesterday said that it would drop the condition.

in a statement, the university said: “We take the welfare of our students very seriously and have always enjoyed a positive working relationship with their elected representatives. in the light of recent discussions with the students’ association we have agreed to amend the contract to remove the requirement for advance notification.”

EUSA president Hugh Murdoch said: “EUSA’s ability to hold the university to account should never have been restricted. We’ve normally got a really strong working relationship with them so it is great that they’ve seen that they were in the wrong on this point and have agreed to remove the condition from the grant.”

The clause was highlighted by student Hona-Luisa CohenFuentes, an EUSA trustee detained by police last week during a visit to the university by Princess Anne. Ms CohenFuentes claimed to have been “assaulted” by staff after the university said she and another student were unable to “provide a satisfactory explanation” for being in a restricted area.

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Gordon Maloney, president of the National Union of Students in Scotland, said: “We welcome the news Edinburgh University has recognised its mistake and acted quickly to remove a clause that could have significantly damaged the relationship between the institution and the elected representatives of the students.

“The lesson of this entire incident – one raised by the student body, reported on by student media and successfuly addressed by student leaders – is that institutions such as Edinburgh fail their students when they fail to encourage critical voices that aim to hold the powerful to account.”