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Original poster

University of Essex apologises to Jo Phoenix and Rosa Freedman for infringing their freedom of speech

163 replies

RoyalCorgi · 18/05/2021 12:57

Both Rosa Freedman and Jo Phoenix had invitations to speak at the University of Essex rescinded because of their "transphobic" views.

The university's vice-chancellor has now conducted a review and concluded that the cancellations were wrong.

twitter.com/jophoenix1/status/1394604603300253696

OP posts:
Pota2 · 18/05/2021 15:01

@teawamutu

Lodder has expressed 'solidarity and love' with someone who feels unsafe because of the report. Hmm
Lol! Also a few days ago he was saying he was close to quitting his job due to some ‘Nazi’ who was ‘radicalising’ his students. Please don’t let us hold you back, Matt.
teawamutu · 18/05/2021 14:56

Lodder has expressed 'solidarity and love' with someone who feels unsafe because of the report. Hmm

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/05/2021 14:54

That is a really thorough review. I am pleasantly surprised to see a university reviewing this sort of thing properly.

Pota2 · 18/05/2021 14:50

The person who likened Jewish professor Rosa Freedman to a Holocaust denier on Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Dr Daragh Murray and is based in the Law School.

Pota2 · 18/05/2021 14:47

@RoyalCorgi

I cheered when I read that, wish it could be the main headline in every newspaper tomorrow.

You know what? It won't even be in Times Higher Education. This ought to be a huge story for THE, and yet it has resolutely and obstinately refused to cover the silencing of gender-critical academics. It's unbelievable.

Yes that is shocking. They should be ashamed.
Pota2 · 18/05/2021 14:46

Essex is the home of the infamous woke-bro TRA, Dr Matt Lodder. His areas of academic expertise are tattoos and porn (most of his publications are in a journal called Porn Studies) and he loves telling women to STFU. So I am not surprised at how toxic it is there @GenderCriticalEssex. Solidarity to you and yay for the report. Let’s hope that the rest of the universities who have engaged in this follow suit.

Thecatonthemat · 18/05/2021 14:45

The message this sends out is clear. Why these institutions still suck up stonewall toxicity I have no idea. Let’s hope the others see the writing on the wall. If only Stonewall did...

SunsetBeetch · 18/05/2021 14:39

Woah.

justicewomen · 18/05/2021 14:31

This wasn't written by anyone at Essex Uni though they commissioned it. It was written by specialist discrimination barrister Akua Reindorf of Cloisters Chambers instructed by solicitors Eversheds.

Original poster
RoyalCorgi · 18/05/2021 14:23

I cheered when I read that, wish it could be the main headline in every newspaper tomorrow.

You know what? It won't even be in Times Higher Education. This ought to be a huge story for THE, and yet it has resolutely and obstinately refused to cover the silencing of gender-critical academics. It's unbelievable.

OP posts:
Kit19 · 18/05/2021 14:17

if the university do continue to have what seems to be a very cosy relationship with Stonewall then they better be damn sure they dont screw up again because this is close as you can get to saying "do not work with this organisation because they lie about the law" as you can get without actually saying it

andyoldlabour · 18/05/2021 14:17

Chrysanthemum5

" Blimey - this from the twitter feed"

I cheered when I read that, wish it could be the main headline in every newspaper tomorrow Grin

AnneofScreamFables · 18/05/2021 14:16

I sincerely hope almost equal proportions of men and women hold gender critical views, seeing as quite a large part of 'gender critical' I actually think is either 'reality' or 'common sense'.

It is probably true that more women than men tend to publically express that view, as more women than men are harmed by policies that stem from a 'TWAW' viewpoint.

MidsomerMurmurs · 18/05/2021 14:12

From recommendation 28:
If the university considers it appropriate to continue its relationship with Stonewall, it should develop a strategy for countering the drawbacks and potential illegalities described above

Sunlight! Very, very interesting to have this spelled out so clearly. Interesting to see how this intersects with the FOI requests about involvement with Stonewall in universities and other public bodies earlier this year.

AaronStampler · 18/05/2021 14:12

Recommendation 28 seems to be DOA. The University's response is action 15:

Stonewall has been a valued University partner and we have been working with Stonewall across a wide range of issues. We will review how we address the specific issues raised in the report. We want to work with Stonewall and others, as the University takes steps, within the context of Action 10, to repair relationships amongst University members.

noneedtoexpelme · 18/05/2021 14:10

Wow! The conclusions and recommendations are brilliant. Particularly the emphasis that Stonewall law is not the actual law. Also it will send a signal to other universities. Bravo.

malloo · 18/05/2021 13:57

Encouraging news, thanks for posting

PronounssheRa · 18/05/2021 13:57

@Chrysanthemum5

Blimey - this from the twitter feed
Stonewall law. Every institution that has had advice from stonewall need to check that stonewall law isn't leading them to break the actual law.
Thecazelets · 18/05/2021 13:52

This is good news. I am cautiously optimistic too.

slug · 18/05/2021 13:48

249.As for indirect discrimination, the decision taken in relation to Prof Phoenix may contribute to indirect sex discrimination against women at the University,on the basis that more women than men tend to hold (and publicly express)gender critical views140. If that can be shown, it can be argued that women are more likely than men to be put at a disadvantage by a practice of excluding gender critical voices.

Ooohhhh!!!!!

GCAcademic · 18/05/2021 13:45

@GenderCriticalEssex

Name changed for obvious reasons.

I'm an academic at Essex. The culture is toxic. I very nearly cheered reading the report. So much sunlight- especially re Stonewall. It's also explicit about what hate speech is and isn't, which is nice to see.

I await a great deal of wailing and gnashing of teeth in my inbox complaining how terrible the report is.

I'm not surprised to hear this about Essex. The most toxic misogynist TRA in my field works there.
AfternoonToffee · 18/05/2021 13:45

That previous Twitter screenshot is just glorious. "Actual law, not what Stonewall want it to be."

Chrysanthemum5 · 18/05/2021 13:44

I applaud the University for the honesty of their approach. I'd like to see them being a bit more upfront and apologising on their twitter feed

heathspeedwell · 18/05/2021 13:44

Another nail in the coffin of Stonewall law.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 18/05/2021 13:38

That is clear and concise and very close to the hallelujah chorus for me.

Thank fuck someone at that university was taught critical thinking before it became too triggering.