The Race Equality Charter (REC), overseen by Advance HE, is the product of its attempt to ‘do something’ about racism because, in the words of Chief Executive Alison Johns, the sector has ‘a legal and moral duty’ to do so. No one would dispute the need for universities to do something about racism, but the extent of the problem and how to oppose it are (and always have been) questions for academics to address, not for bureaucratic, partisan prescription.
Eric Kaufman – ‘Kathleen Stock won’t be the last’
After the appalling treatment of gender critical academic Professor Kathleen Stock, who this week resigned from her post at the University of Sussex following a sustained campaign to punish her for ‘wrong think’ on transgender issues, Eric Kaufman warns that a new age of authoritarianism has just begun
DDU supporter Khadija Khan – Fear of being called ‘Islamophobic’ leads to a failure to help Muslim women suffering domestic abuse
DDU supporter Khadija Khan writes for Areo about the double standards in our attitudes to violence against women of Muslim heritage. When we fail to address the harmful religious attitudes that lead to such abuse for fear of causing offence we are prioritising the protection of ideas, not people.
T M Murray Reviews Göran Adamson’s latest book ‘Masochistic Nationalism’
Nationalism’s Identical Twin Enchants Westerners with the Lure of the Exotic – ‘Swedish sociologist Göran Adamson’s latest book is about two forms of nationalism… One of them (white supremacist nationalism) unites in vengeance, the other (anti-white nationalism) in shame’ writes T M Murray.
‘Islamaphobia!’ The Accusation That Silences Dissent!
From Samuel Paty in France last year, and more recently events at Batley Grammar School, it is clear that we need to hear liberal Muslim voices in the public sphere so traditionalists do not control the narrative. Liberal-minded people of all religions and colour should be able to disagree and offend without fear of institutional […]
The Danger of Apologising Too Quickly
Events at Batley Grammar School this week have resulted in a teacher and his family having to go into hiding. His ‘crime’,at the very worst, was having given a poor lesson that offended the religious sensibilities of some Muslim parents. Reprehensible as the protests outside the school gates are, they are not the main problem. […]
The Spectre of Totalitarianism
We live in a democracy, but are we witnessing worrying signs of a totalitarian culture?
St Jarel of Woke and why and eye for an eye won’t do
Considering two recent cases of offensive tweets regarding Captain Sir Tom Moore, Nick Buckley , who has personal experience of twitter amplified intolerance, argues that offensive comments should not be criminalised and offenders shouldn’t lose their jobs. Freedom of speech must be a universal value, otherwise it becomes an elite privilege: Jarel […]
DDU Submission on Freedom of Expression
Does hate speech law need to be updated or clarified? How has the situation changed in universities in the two years since the Committee’s report on the issue? Does everyone have equal protection of their right to freedom of expression?
Free Speech and English Working-Class Identity
In this honest and moving account, Bradley Strotten at The Equiano Project, and ambassador for the newly formed Free Speech Champions, reflects on his working-class background, his relationship with his father and writes: Furthermore, unlike my younger self, I do not think that the expression of national pride, a sense of belonging, and concern over […]