Free speech and genuine questioning: Is the Oxford Union failing us?
"denied the opportunity to ask a question, I heckled Singer with disgust over the ‘soft-ball questions’."
Socratic Society in free speech spat after debate cancellation
The Oxford Socratic Society, a forum for discussing philosophical question, has been embroiled in a free speech row after cancelling a debate on the ethics of abortion. The motion, “Is abortion before 24 weeks unethical?” was set to be debated last Friday.
Student unions could face fines over free speech breaches
Under the new legislation, new freedom of speech and academic duties would be placed on universities and, for the first time, on student unions. Individuals would be granted a right to seek compensation through the courts if the freedom of speech duties of an institution or student union had been breached.
Great Thunberg’s Spitting Image Sketch and the Problem with Political Satire
"Compared to the cutting-edge and culture-shaping Spitting Image of the 80s and 90s, this reboot seems to have taken out its dentures and started sipping the political and environmental crises through a straw."
Opinion – We need to change the conversation around censorship
A
recent headline warned ‘it’s time for Boris to tackle the tyrannical silencing
of free speech on our campuses’. Having not realised I was studying in...
Explained: Oxford SU ‘Academic Hate Speech’ motion sparks free speech controversy
The Oxford University Student Union (SU) has condemned “hateful material in mandatory teaching”, after a motion on 'Academic Hate Speech' passed in Student Council...
Emails reveal Government ministers “losing patience” over freedom of speech issues
Oxford University’s public condemnation of UNWomen Oxford UK Society’s decision to 'no-platform' Amber Rudd came after communication with the Department of Education and internal...
JCR Presidents criticize Oxford’s response to Amber Rudd ‘no-platforming’
The Committee of Oxford College JCR Presidents (PresCom) has published an Open Letter expressing their “disappointment and deep concerns" with the University of Oxford's...
Bodyguards for TERF professor
An Oxford professor has been provided security by the University over fears she may face physical violence and intimidation from trans rights activists.
Selina...
Debating Matters championship held at Oxford Union
Last week the Oxford Union played host to the Oxfordshire
finals of the Debating Matters championship.
The competition for sixth-form students took place as part
of...
Interview: David Aaronovitch
"The people’s whose future depends on this question are overwhelmingly against the thing we have decided for their future. That’s a problem."
Polarising the free speech debate
The question of who deserves our attention does not allow us easy answers.
Counter-terrorism measures threaten democracy
Recent abuses of regulation lay bare the extent of its politicisation.
Gagging clauses: Oxford used “more than one a week” last year
The University ranks highly against other Russell Group universities s in its use of so-called "gagging" clauses
