Daily Archives: December 15, 2019

Students told to drop safe spaces and no-platform policies as minister orders universities to put freedom of speech first

Students are being told to drop safe spaces and no platform-policies as the minister for higher education is ordering universities to protect freedom of speech.

Jo Johnson has written to the chief executive of Universities UK to say there is a legal duty for universities to ensure freedom of speech is being exercised.

Under new plans drawn up by the Government, universities will be required by law to protect free speech across their campuses included inside the student union.

His letter comes just months after findings showed 94 per cent of universities in the UK now have some form of restriction on freedom of expression, up from 80 per cent in 2015.

The worrying craze has seen everything from public speakers blocked to fancy dress outfits banned from appearing on campus.

In recent years a number of high-profile people have been banned from speaking at universities in recent years including Mr Johnsons brother Boris, whose invitation to Kings College London was revoked for a column about Barack Obama.

Germaine Greer was nearly stopped from speaking at a lecture at Cardiff University after students started a petition against her visiting, following comments she made about the transgender community.

Radical feminist Julie Bindel was ironically banned from speaking at a debate about censorship at Manchester Universitys student union for her dangerous views on transgender people.

Journalist Julie Bindle was banned from debating censorship at Manchester Universitys Students Union

This upward trend of censorship has also seen campuses banning everything from newspapers to fancy dress outfits, such as Pocahontas and cowboys and Indians.

And in some universities such as Cardiff Metropolitan, students are trying to ban terms such as gentlemans agreement and mankind in case they cause offence.

Now Mr Johnson is seeking to reclaim some control on campuses, through the new Higher Education and Research Bill.

He told The Times newspaper a consultation will be starting shortly.

The newspaper Mr Johnson wrote to Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, and said: It is important to note that the duty extends to both the premises of the university and premises occupied by the students unions, even when they are not part of the university premises.

It is important to note that the duty extends to both the premises of the university and premises occupied by the students unions, even when they are not part of the university premises.

Excerpt from:
Johnson orders universities to protect freedom of speech - Stock Daily Dish

Freedom of speech must trump safe spaces in universities, minister says Freedom of speech will be enshrined in law at university campuses across the country, including student unions, if Boris Johnsons brother is to have his way.

Higher education minister Jo Johnson, younger brother of the foreign secretary, has written to higher education institutions warning that a commitment to freedom of speech will have to be clearly outlined in their governance structures. Free speech must prevail and counter censoring forces, including those asking for the minister said.

According to the original report in the Times, Johnson told Universities UK chief executive Nicola Dandridge that universities had the legal duty to host speakers of any belief, be they members, students, employees or visiting speakers.

It is important to note that the duty extends to both the premises of the university and premises occupied by the students unions, even when they are not part of the university premises, he said, adding that access should not be denied to any individual or body on any grounds connected with their

The policy is believed to come as a response to a series of boycotts to controversial speakers in universities across the country.

Feminist writer Germaine Greer has been the target of a national ban from students, after expressing sentiments described by her critics as transphobic.

Censorship is believed to have increased at universities in the last few years, with 94 percent of institutions now having official restrictions on what can and . Last year the number of universities with freedom of speech restrictions had also risen to 90 percent from 80 percent in 2015.

Certain colleges are even attempting to ban allegedly offensive words, including Cardiff Metropolitan University where gentlemans agreement and mankind are on a list of no-go words for their sexist overtones.

Johnsons letter is part of his strategy to impose public interest principles on higher education providers, as outlined in the Higher Education and Research Bill.

Not everyone supports the bill, however, including the House of Lords, which believes the document gives students too much power.

Read the rest here:
Freedom of speech must trump safe spaces in universities, minister says - Stock Daily Dish

TheMuttart Foundation, an Edmonton charity, disputes the notion that opposition to Albertas oil and gas industry is bankrolled by foreign money. Using Canada Revenue Agency data, it found Alberta charities received less than three per cent of their revenues from foreign sources.

Human rights group Amnesty International Canada has warned that the war room and public inquiry threaten freedom of expression and association.

Legal advocacy group Ecojustice has also filed a court challenge citing similar concerns.

If there areorganizations that use their free speech to put misinformation into the public square, we will respond, Kenney said.

Thats not attacking freedom of speech. Its responding to the content of the speech. Thats called public discourse.

He said the centre will react withrespect, civility and professionalism.

The centre is to have a research unit,an energyliteracy unitand a rapid response team to challenge misinformation. Its website lists eight staff members, half of whom used to work in the media.

CEO Tom Olsen, a one-time journalist andformerpremier Ed Stelmachs spokesman,ran unsuccessfully as aUnited Conservative Partycandidate in the April provincial election.

He said he anticipates adding staff as the centre ramps up.

We will be effective and mindful of the money that we spend, which is taxpayers money, he said.

One-thirdof the budget comes from existing provincial advertisingmoney, and the rest from a levy on major industrial emitters.

The centreaims toget its message out through advertising, publicity and social media.Olsendescribed it as part new media organization, part think tank, research hub.

He said hes not sure whether the war room will reach out topeople or organizationsprivately to request corrections.

Its website, which went up Tuesday,has severalarticles by centre staff. Theres oneabout an Indigenous businessman proposing to build a pipeline, another about how Canadian natural gas can help lower global greenhouse gas emissions anda story headlined Alberta father irked by charity group that targets fossil fuel industry.

Outside the news conference, about a dozen protesters wearing festive reindeer antlers sang about climate change to the tune of Christmas carols, which included Cool Down the World and We Wish You a Stable Climate.

In Edmonton, Opposition Leader Rachel Notley called the centre a slush fund for Kenneys political goals. She said it has no firewalls or safeguards to ensure that the data, research and work of the centre is not used for the benefit of the UCP or its political allies.

She also questioned whether the centre will stick to its promise to keep debate to the facts and to not target individual Albertans who disagree with the governments stance.

I certainly hope were not using taxpayers dollars to attack Albertans, to attack people who have other concerns and other priorities.

Duncan Kenyon, Alberta regional director of the environmental think tank Pembina Institute, said he laments the governmentsfocus on fighting fossil fuel foes when everyone should be working together on tackling climate change.

We actually more than ever need to come together to figure out how to decarbonize and diversify our energy, he said.

We need to respond to where the world and the markets and the people that are going to buy this product are going.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2019.

With files from Dean Bennett in Edmonton

Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press

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Alberta premier says energy war room will be respectful as it takes on critics - CFJC Today Kamloops