Category: News
The Secretive University
Stephen Baskerville discusses how US universities create secretive devices to silence academic heretics The most effective method for protecting academic freedom is almost certainly publicity. (Tenure has not worked; neither […]
How to defend free speech in universities
Free speech is a hotly debated topic currently in the university sector. Dennis Hayes discusses why speech is censored and what can be done to tackle it.* A new report […]
Freedom of Speech and its Consequences
Philip Hammond As a journalism lecturer, I was struck by the comment made recently by Karl Turner MP, that: “Of course everyone has the right to freedom of expression. But that […]
Campus Free Speech: A Cultural Approach
Adam Kissel Key Points US colleges and universities have well-documented cultures of self-censorship of disfavored views. In contrast, free expression is consistent with campus values of toleration, diversity and inclusion. […]
Humza’s Hate Bill – will you be criminalized for someone else’s emotion?
Catherine McCall MUCH has been written by legal experts and others about the vagueness within the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill. Vagueness in law is certainly dangerous. If […]
The Anatomy of Hate: Submission in Opposition to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill
AFAF (Scotland) member, Dr Carlton Brick, made this submission to the Scottish parliamentary committee stage of the Scottish National Party’s Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill. This is a […]
Why we need The Free Speech Union
Do we need The Free Speech Union (FSU)? The answer is ‘Yes!’ A group like Academics For Academic Freedom (AFAF) can work effectively in the university sector. We already publicise […]
Will academic freedom be upheld at the University of Kent?
Academic mobbing became more vicious last week. Academics from the University of Kent at Canterbury (UKC) and other universities appealed in an open letter to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen Cox, […]
Rise up for academic freedom!
Reflections on the past decade can be depressing. Two articles from the end of that decade are particularly dispiriting because they bring into focus the absurdity of contemporary university culture. […]
Free Speech Guidance: An analysis of recent documents
These advice notes were produced by Bryn Harris of the Free Speech Network. Their purpose is advise to students and student societies on key guidance documents relating to freedom of […]