Trans Student Faces Expulsion from Univeristy of Bristol

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

www.crowdjustice.com/case/trans-student-faces-expulsion-uob/

Does anyone have the info from the University's side?

I am facing disciplinary board at the University of Bristol for writing an open letter asking the University to take a stand against the infamously transphobic group, "A Woman's Place".

The University claim that the open letter contained, "false information", that I have attempted to "suppress fellow students' freedom of speech", and by trying to address hatred towards trans people, and particularly trans women, I have, "brought the University into disrepute"

Expulsion seems a bit excessive?

[nauticant]

fairplayforwomen.com/transgender-prisoners/

This has been subject to endless criticism but much of that is quibbling without being able to put forward something more rigorous/convincing.

[R0wantrees]

I'd also like them to be asked for specific examples of the transphobia of WPUK that they believe justifies use of these tactics.

The following exchange is with the host of the open letter. Discussion in the comments where academics have added their support:

Post Grad "I would have liked to have signed, but there is an important and very misleading falsehood contained in the letter. WPUK is not “anti trans” in action or intent. WPUK is facilitating discussion about the effects of the proposed GRA on women who are not trans. This is a necessary discussion."

openletterbristol "We disagree. If A Woman’s Place were committed to actual fair and open dialogue around the proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act, they would not continuously book speakers who have a long history of prejudice against trans people.

It is one thing to seek a debate. It is quite another to only book speakers who actively oppose trans rights – speakers who repeatedly portray trans women as violent and dangerous, to argue that trans people are a danger to children, to ignore trans experiences, and to portray trans rights and feminism as at odds.

The hatred and ignorance promoted by A Woman’s Place is terrifying, whether it’s promoted through arguments that might seem “reasonable” to people without much knowledge of the issues, or through direct threats of violence."

Post Grad "Thank you for posting my comment. However, by saying that the speakers are “anti trans”, you are begging the question.
Please read about WPUK for yourself before jumping on the bandwagon:" (links to tweets & WPUK website)

openleterbristol "Good grief.

No, we are drawing a conclusion on the basis of available evidence.

A Woman’s Place’s website and social media platforms are designed to appear “reasonable” to those unfamiliar with the debates.

We don’t expect to convince you of anything – your position is clear. However, in the spirit of transparency and openness, we encourage other people reading this conversation to watch some of the videos from events hosted by A Woman’s Place (https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=a+woman%27s+place+uk) and think about the following:

– how do the accounts of trans experience presented here differ from the accounts presented by a majority of trans people?

– to what extent are speakers at these events making sweeping generalisations about a demographic group?

– how committed are speakers at these events to ideals of bodily autonomy and consent?

– how many accusations of “bullying” can be explained by individuals protesting against the discriminatory attitudes presented towards them?

– just how many straw men can you fit into one speech?"

openletterbristol.wordpress.com/2018/05/21/freespeech/#comments

[nauticant]

That is piss poor.

Q: "Could you give examples of this transphobia?"

A: "Yes. Here's 5+ hours of video. It's in there. Watch that through the lens of our ideology, and then either agree with us or shut the fuck up."

[womanformallyknownaswoman]

I'm pleased the Uni are taking action- it's important to reinforce principles about free speech and the reputation of the Uni around that. It also is about the "accused" proving legally what they assert around hate speech etc - which they won't be able to do - so the Uni is naturally setting its limits around balanced debate. Good. Sometimes boundaries need reinforcing and limits setting when some won't stay within them - actions have consequences.

Hell as if a reminder is needed - this is about women wanting to debate proposed legislative changes and the impact upon women and children - it's not all about the Trans community - despite what they think.

[Offred]

It’s reassuring to be honest because despite the long justification the best they seem to be able to say to justify the ‘inciting transphobia/transphobic’ is ‘because we think it is’.

If they asked GC feminists for evidence of the promotion of violence against women there would be pages and pages of tweets and an actual exhibition of weapons and threats in a public library in SF...

[Deathgrip]

We will express our needs, and they will be met. We will change our bodies however we want. We will have universally accessible and freely available hormones & blockers, surgical procedures, and any other relevant treatments and therapies. We will end the medical gatekeeping of our bodies. We will have full, historical accountability for the abuses perpetuated against us in the name of 'healthcare’. We will see reparations for these crimes, and the crimes committed against others in our names.
We are not too ill, too disabled, too anxious, too depressed, too psychotic, too Mad, too foreign, too young, too old, too fat, too thin, too poor, or too queer to make decisions about our bodies and our futures. We are all self-medicating. Our agency will be recognised. We each labour far harder for the health of ourselves and those around us than any doctor ever has, and we will continue build supportive communities on principles of mutual aid.

For me this is one of the biggest signifiers of Male privilege.

They do realise that women don’t have what they’re demanding? Look at the way illnesses that affect exclusively or mainly women are handled by the NHS. It’s shameful.

[Offred]

Yy deathgrip... couldn’t agree more...

[Tanith]

There should be no need to wade through the videos. The letter clearly states that the meeting was “openly transphobic”.

The fact that it was not advertised as transphobic and that the only evidence they can offer is to go through the videos gives lie to that statement. It discredits the whole letter.

That academics have signed it without even spotting that glaring lie is shocking. They are attempting to interfere with the disciplinary procedure of another establishment without bothering to check the claims made or to get the full story.

It won’t do much for their academic reputations.

[thebewilderness]

I am curious to know if the men who wore masks to threaten and intimidate the speakers at the Jam Jar in Bristol were students, if anyone recognized them, and if they are facing any kind of legal or disciplinary action.
Opposition to free speech is difficult to justify, unless you are opposing women talking about women's rights, and then suddenly the 4th rule of misogyny triggers a lifetime of conditioning and the academics and students mindlessly agree that women should STFU.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

That academics have signed it without even spotting that glaring lie is shocking. They are attempting to interfere with the disciplinary procedure of another establishment without bothering to check the claims made or to get the full story

YY. I haven't googled any of those who have signed, but I am very surprised at the lack of critical thinking. It is almost as though they haven't actually read the letter.

[thebewilderness]

When the purpose is virtue signaling to avoid being targeted by these same terrorists it makes sense.

[OlennasWimple]

Doesn't say much about Bristol's ability to teach students to analyze, critique and debate facts and opinions if that letter is the best they can do

[Ereshkigal]

Quite.

[jgrobinson]

I don't believe Nic's claim that this disciplinary hearing is only about writing the letter. I've heard that Nic also intimidated Raquel Rosario Sanchez, another doctoral student in the same Centre (ironically enough the Centre for Violence & Gender Research!).

I suspect that Raquel is unable to tell her side of the story at the moment, as she would be involved as a witness in the disciplinary hearing.

Here are a few screenshots to show Nic's approach to scholarly debate. Nic states: "They think the open letter makes me an extremist trans activist? They haven't seen anything yet"

[IdentifiedHuman]

I heard that too -- that this is also about Nic harassing a fellow student. There were other people who signed that letter and protested about the meeting. I'd be extremely surprised if this were just about a single person opposing a meeting by writing a letter.

[NotARegularPenguin]

Well Nic is certainly painting the uni in a bad light so I would say guilty of the disrepute charge.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

There is more to this... I know this but cannot say what or how!

I'd ask that people stop guessing... just in case someone decides to use this thread in evidence!

[TerfsUp]

I dunno, reminds me of people being expelled by one of the universities for saying stupid and nasty things on WhatsApp. (Was it Bristol? Could have been Exeter)

Sorry, late to the party. It was Warwick University.

[HerFemaleness]

Looking on the bright side, at least that open letter has given us a handy list of academics who clearly have fewer brain cells than letters after their names. What kind of scholar are you if you sign something without checking it through first?

[R0wantrees]

link to thread with responses from some academics who were invited to WPUK Todmorden having signed the open letter above:
twitter.com/karencuthbert/status/1000876735393562624

[SameTerfDifferentUserName]

Katie Alcock is my new shero! Actually Karen has inspired me too, if a muppet like that can get a PhD I really shouldn’t feel so daunted at the prospect of pursuing FE at some point in the future!

[R0wantrees]

'Bristol University accused of targeting transgender student
Nic Shall was speaking out against transphobia'

(extract)
"Bristol University is being accused unfairly persecuting a transgender student who has spoken out against a controversial women’s group.

PhD student Nic Shall launched a petition criticising an event involving “A Women’s Place” which was chaired by an academic at the university in February.

Nic - who’s preferred pronoun is ‘they’ - claims the group promotes transphobic views through its campaign to ban trans-people from female-only spaces such as changing rooms and bathrooms.

The student alleges the university said the petition contained “false information”, was an attempt to “suppress free speech” and “brought the university in to disrepute”.

The university launched disciplinary proceedings against Nic, who claims to have been threatened with expulsion - something the university denies."

www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-university-accused-targeting-transgender-1622246

[Offred]

the group promotes transphobic views through its campaign to ban trans-people from female-only spaces such as changing rooms and bathrooms.

The absolute constant stream of people speaking for GC women and misrepresenting the views is just driving me crazy.

This is exactly what #nodebate is about. It’s so everyone can tell us what we really think.

How is asking to be including in consultation re potential laws that will change the definition of sex in law a ‘campaign to ban transwomen from female-only spaces’

It really fucks me off.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! That same old lie, over and over again.

As you say Offred, so much #nodebate shitebeing spouted because, well it just is, isn't it?

Bollocks!

[jgrobinson]

One of the critics of WPUK posted by R0wantrees is Sally Hines, a sociologist at Leeds.

Her letter makes no sense, claiming that TERFs are heterosexual feminists. Everyone knows the group most affected by transactivism are lesbians, and many prominent critics of transactivism are lesbians like Linda Bellos & Anne Ruzylo (who were featured as speakers by WPUK) & Julia Long & Sheila Jeffreys.

She also says that she is happy to share her spaces with transwomen and men, which I've never heard anyone say before. (Or did she mean transwomen and transmen?)