More students accusing university staff of transphobia.

[Xanthangum]

Sequence of events:

Open letter: Gay People Losing Faith in Stonewall is published.

Letter gets attacked by trans allies

Deputy vice chancellor condemns TRA attacks, along the lines of 'defense of academic freedom'

Interview in student newspaper paints him into a corner and although the DVC puts up a valiant fight, he ends up being forced to admit 'I got it wrong'

É: You reportedly condemned criticism of an open letter titled ‘GAY PEOPLE LOSING FAITH IN STONEWALL’ as abusive. You described the letter as a “well written, thought out, and needed intervention” and a “defense of academic freedom.”

Many would regard these ideas as transphobic. If you recall, why did a discussion of the letter come up during a Guild Officer training day? Moreover, can you elaborate on why you felt it was an abusive act to criticise the open letter?

TQ: Well, I wasn’t speaking from a standpoint of trans issues. Across the institution we were absolutely committed to LGBTQ+ rights, around issues of gender identity and sexual orientation. It’s absolutely at the core of this institution.

My recollection of what I said was that I was trying to encourage that we disagreed with each other with courtesy. I was not trying to make any reference to this case and the rights and wrongs of what was said in the letter. The key to my report was that I announced to the subject chairs and the representatives present, that if we were going to be in an environment where we don’t always agree with each other, then what we have to do is find ways we can disagree with each other.

What I was referring to was an argument on social media that moved from any form of debate on the rights and wrongs of the issue and devolved into something that was much more personal.

We can agree to differ, but all the time we’re thinking – what am I doing for the integrity and the inclusivity of the learning community that we are trying to promote? That was the context of why I brought in that particular issue into the speech in that context.

É: Was it professional to express this view that may have been misconstrued, in such a context in your senior position as the DVC?

TQ: If I was interpreted as representing a view that was that I didn’t respect the identity of my trans colleagues and students, then I regret that. I got it wrong.

exepose.com/2020/02/19/i-got-it-wrong-an-interview-with-professor-tim-quine-dvc/

Final score: Woke City 1, Academic Integrity Nil.

exepose.com/2020/02/19/i-got-it-wrong-an-interview-with-professor-tim-quine-dvc/

Not sure I entirely agree with your analysis @Xantha

I always use the phrase “if you interpreted this as.......I am sorry” when I mean “that was not what I said but if you got the wrong end of the stick and were upset that’s a shame”

Fair enough. My take is, he thinks the Universoty has the right to listen to myriad viewpoints and discuss them, and the students are all too keen to shout 'transphobe'

If I was interpreted as representing a view that was that I didn’t respect the identity of my trans colleagues and students, then I regret that. I got it wrong. He said that was not his recollection and that if others had misinterpreted him then he should have made himself more clear...

That's why he reitereated if we were going to be in an environment where we don’t always agree with each other, then what we have to do is find ways we can disagree with each other

That you have been swayed by the rather self serving title of the piece just shows how much the student rag has managed to mangle the truth in order present their further misrepresentation of what he actually said.

If I were him I'd be having stringer words with them... reminding them, again what am I doing for the integrity and the inclusivity of the learning community that we are trying to promote?

Cos so far all they have done is driven yet another wedge between students and the academic body!