Goldsmiths LGBT society says feminists should be sent to a gulag.

Imagine a group decided destroy an education system, but didn't want to come out into the open and use the Pol Pot/Mao method.
They could use a combination of austerity and this pomo bullshit. Its difficult to fight when there is no identifiable enemy, and your weapons are facts and common sense.

A reasonable de-essentialising of science is to say that phrenology was bullshit.

Er, no. Phrenology fell to the scientific method.

I suppose might be some validity re 'decolonisation' as to which areas of science are funded in the first place, and by whom. It doesn't negate the science which has been done, more that areas may be overlooked. Medical research on issues specifically affecting women or 'ethnic minorities' (in quotes because globally not minorities which makes this worse).

So, 'decolonisation' of science should mean supporting greater participation by biological women and people of colour. Which is actually a matter understood by scientific institutions though not as easy to address as we might wish. What it absolutely doesn't need is participation by people who seem woefully scientifically ignorant and try to apply inappropriate concepts and who wilfully prioritise subjectivity over objectivity.

I really, really hope the Twitter account was hacked by a GC feminist to draw attention to the Natacha Kennedy blacklisting scandal. Attacking free speech is as bad as it gets for an "academic".
Ps it's not unusual for lecturers in education departments to be experienced teachers who don't (yet) have a PhD.

I urge caution with that Spiked free speech ranking. Brendan O'Neill and co regard consent classes as anti-free speech...

I don't think the issues are unconnected either. You have an institution - powerful: it's the gatekeeper to bestowing accreditation for a qualification that demands investments of time, money and self - and it is secretive, has a culture of arguing Black=white, boundaries are a fascist self-delusion, non-exposure to argument, and so on.

That is a culture that facilitates grooming. Invisible because prestige (and the age of the groomed) masks it.

Anne Applebaum commented on that thread. 😲

I think it clearly was seen by many beyond the feminist future-gulag-occupants.

This+sexual harassment+the failure to go public on their feminist-harassing lecturer = very, very poor public look for Goldsmiths.

Honestly, what's the point of paying out all that money in non-disclosure agreements when it all goes pear-shaped from a quarter you didn't have your eye on?

Oh yes, and before I have to go off and do something to pay my own bills, let's not forget the Speaker's Corner incident. Venice Allan had booked the New Cross Learning Centre (aka library) for a meeting to debate changes to the GRA. When TRAs got wind of this they lobbied the NCLC to cancel the booking which is why it got relocated to central London, with a rendezvous point at Speaker's Corner. The TRAs who had tried to shut it down all then turned up at Speaker's Corner to protest.

Now, as it happens, NCLC is almost opposite Goldsmith's. I'd hazard a guess that at least some of the protestors were Goldsmith's students/ex-students/alums/staff.

Deffo wouldn’t recommend the education department at present! 😳

Totally agree about it being the student's choice. The Music department has a strong reputation so I hope your son has a great time there.

Doubt very much whether Tara completed a degree course. Ada Cable was possibly a research associate but not I think a fully fledged academic. Doesn't have a Ph.D. but then as we've seen with Natacha Kennedy that isn't always an obstacle. However, I think in NK's case that had a lot to do with a long career as a primary school teacher leading to working in teacher training/education research (I know, I know) whereas I have no clue what Cable does to pay the bills but I doubt there's a professional qualification involved.

“Would this affect whether you wanted to send your kids to Goldsmiths or whether you would employ someone from Goldsmiths?”

I would be wary of encouraging a young person to go somewhere where theory and ideology are given credence without evidence and academic rigour.

Posing a theory is great. The point is that it should be tested and challenged before being launched as ‘fact’. The TAs seem to have missed that step.

Am I anti persecution of and discrimination against anyone who challenges gender boundaries or who lives as Trans? Absolutely.

Am I happy to be told that I must, without question, accept their definition of sex / biology? No.

They are allowed to question, so am I.

And without free speech there is no intellectual credibility at all.

So that would be a serious concern in the culture and establishment at GS.

The thing is that our children are now adults. It's not about "where we send our kids" once they get to University level. My son chose Goldsmiths based on the location near to his home, it's reputation for great musicians and the fact some of his musical heroes went there.

I had no say... It's his choice.

I can only hope that I have brought him up with a healthy dose of scepticism.

I'll tell you who is a Goldsmiths graduate though: Tara "the terf slayer" Wood.

Also I think Ada Cable. Or Ada was lecturing there until Ada got kicked out "due to transphobic harassment" I assume post Speakers Corner.

Bertrand I went to G/S.

Depends on the course - for the actual arts/performing arts, it’s brilliant, albeit incredibly harsh and competitive.

I suspect that’s some of the problem, the (actually appropriate) Pomo theory around the flagship arts courses has leaked all over the union and then into subject areas where it’s not at all relevant, even downright stupid.

So, depends on the kid and depends on the course.
Happy to answer questions!

You mean there's a difference between the tripe that Goldsmiths produces and parody?

Would this affect whether you wanted to send your kids to Goldsmiths or whether you would employ someone from Goldsmiths?

This damages the entire university's reputation. And that tweet has been seen by many more than feminists.

Well, there are a lot of questionably educated young people (Ash Sarkar for example) demanding "luxury communism".

Fully automated, no less. You can even buy the t-shirt.

The revolution will be merchandised.

That's what I imagine a luxury communist might need to go through in the gulag.

Or because they are upset by people disagreeing with them and are having a group hug back in their echo chamber.

Hi... Yeah...Like, I can't eat this bread because I try to avoid gluten? Can I get a gluten-free ration? And a skinny soy decaff organic latte with cinnamon and ground chia seeds?

Thank you ladies and gents (no assumptions of gender) for a brilliant morning read.

Let us recall, that with support from others, one of Aimee Challenor's major achievements was to report a TfL driver who said, "Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen" for committing violence on the listening ears of the non-binary.

www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/transport-for-london-scraps-ladies-and-gentlemen-from-tannoy-announcements-in-genderneutral-move-a3586336.html

And, of course, there was the Oyster card online application nastiness.

In November last year, I had a nasty experience on the Transport for London (TfL) Oyster card helpline. In the face of the transphobia I received

blog.aimeec.co.uk/2017/07/01/tfl/

*Or

They’ve protected twitter account so either they’ve been hacked it someone running it has been hauled in.

Houmous? Or maybe not because of the allergens.

Do you think we get caviar with our 140g of black bread?

Well, there are a lot of questionably educated young people (Ash Sarkar for example) demanding "luxury communism".

Bertrand I'll be less flippant if they are real!

At the end of the day they have to choose for themselves and I would say the course should be the biggest part of that. If Goldsmith’s offer something unique that they really want to study then despite all this bullshit they should probably go for it.

However all students leaving school now should be playing the game very carefully. It's basically a fierce competition amongst the 5-30 ranked unis to get the a/b/c students and fill their courses. I think there are better unis out there.

Now back to the gulag spa! Do you think we get caviar with our 140g of black bread?