SUPPORTING FREE SCIENCE
//Imperial College must not “disown” one of its founding fathers, Thomas Huxley, eminent scientists have warned as they urged the university not to remove his bust or rename a building named after him
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//Academic unions are facing deepening divides over transgender issues, just as they seek to unite members in fights for fairer pay and pensions.
In the UK, a new group of early career academics has claimed that the University and College Union has failed to stand up for scholars facing harassment and ostracism for their views on sex and gender, contributing to an intimidatory climate that is inhibiting freedom of expression.
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//Top academics at Durham University are accused of whipping up mob of left-wing students attempting to oust head of college for defending Rod Liddle speech furore
//[This is her full statement on 3 December 2021]
I resigned from The Open University last night. The University has allowed things to escalate to a point beyond repair. My trust and heart have been broken. As many of you know, I am taking the OU to the Employment Tribunal and will provide further updates on the case in the next week or two.
But today, I am delighted to announce that as of 1st January 2022, I will be moving to the University of Reading to become Professor of Criminology at the School of Law. I am excited about working with law and criminology specialists, and about the next chapter in my academic career.
It is a privilege and pleasure to move to a University that truly values interdisciplinary research and teaching, and that has demonstrated its commitment to upholding and protecting academic freedom.
To donate to her legal proceedings against the Open University click here
//The Westminster government’s campus free speech bill could be helpful for higher education institutions provided it is “proportionate and manageable”, according to Universities UK.
//John Cleese has cancelled an appearance at Cambridge University after a visiting speaker was banned for a Hitler impression.
The star, who said he had done a similar impression on a Monty Python show, said he was “blacklisting myself before someone else does”.
Cleese himself in an interview on his book and this self-censorship
//[This is an older piece of news, but striking]
A mother-of-two law student who was investigated by university chiefs after saying ‘women have vaginas’ has today been cleared of misconduct.
//James Murray is a higher education and employment lawyer at Taylor Vinters, a law firm specialising in research and innovation. He has written a number of articles dealing with academic freedom and free speech on campus.
//My name is Jo Phoenix. I am Professor of Criminology at the Open University.
I am bringing an employment tribunal claim to hold the OU to account for the public campaign of harassment that has made my working life unbearable, and I really need your support.
My hope is that this case will force universities to protect female academics from the vicious bullying perpetrated by those who disagree with our beliefs on sex and gender; bullying that is designed to silence us and our research.
Continue reading -> here
//A professor accused of transphobia for her views on gender identity is quitting her post at the University of Sussex.
Philosophy professor Kathleen Stock, who rejects the claim, said she would be leaving after “a horrible time” and “difficult few years”.
Earlier this month an anonymous group launched a campaign to get her sacked.
Continue reading here at the BBC
