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Original poster

Students fed up with woke culture at universities launch free-speech group

39 replies

SunsetBeetch · 31/01/2021 15:26

Students fed up with woke culture at universities launch free-speech group to embrace wide-ranging opinions amid fears debate is being stifled

(Mentions Selina Todd.)

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9206069/amp/Students-fed-woke-culture-universities-launch-free-speech-group.html

OP posts:
Hammonds · 31/01/2021 15:29

This is so good to see, it’s not like it’s new though is it? Uni was the place to go for exactly this - till it ate it self. So very interesting to see - the rebirth of free speech.

tinkywinkyshandbag · 31/01/2021 15:31

I think this is a positive step forward. I sent it to my DD who is at uni, she definitely feels as if expressing your views on certain topics is frowned upon and she's a very non woke university.

Original poster
SunsetBeetch · 31/01/2021 15:35

Inaya has made a number of TV and radio appearances and has been on Triggernometry. She always speaks very well. I wish her all the best and will be right behind her.

OP posts:
NonnyMouse1337 · 31/01/2021 15:58

This is their website - freespeechchampions.com/

If you know any young people who would like to get involved, please let them know.
freespeechchampions.com/free-speech-champions/

Even if it's just to sign up to the newsletter to stay informed of what events might be taking place.
freespeechchampions.com/newsletter/

AnyOldPrion · 31/01/2021 16:12

A breath of fresh air. I wish them all possible success.

PurpleHoodie · 31/01/2021 16:33

Good.

Original poster
SunsetBeetch · 31/01/2021 16:34

Great, thanks Nonny

OP posts:
SuitedandBooted · 31/01/2021 16:54

Excellent news. Universities are supposed to be places where differing views can be examined and discussed, not automatically shut down in case something is "triggering" Hmm

Nobody has an absolute right not to be offended.

BrownFootStool · 31/01/2021 17:29

University of Manchester had a great free speech society. They were so hated on campus and attempts were made to ban their events but Prof Brian Cox and the Uni President stepped in to defend free speech.

Original poster
SunsetBeetch · 31/01/2021 17:34

@BrownFootStool

University of Manchester had a great free speech society. They were so hated on campus and attempts were made to ban their events but Prof Brian Cox and the Uni President stepped in to defend free speech.
That's good to hear.
OP posts:
RobinMoiraWhite · 31/01/2021 18:04

The Daily Mail cast as a champion of free speech. I’ll just leave this here while I laugh myself silly.

Nettleskeins · 31/01/2021 18:08

There is another side to this

Wildswim · 31/01/2021 18:09

Good for them!

Imnobody4 · 31/01/2021 18:14

Sadly some students don't really have much of a grasp on free speech.

LadyWithLapdog · 31/01/2021 18:15

@Nettleskeins thanks for that. I hadn’t heard of this (I have a University child) and it sounds like another right-wing libertarian agenda at play.

NiceGerbil · 31/01/2021 18:25

The guardian article seems to be centred of the comments of a chap called walker, who was contacted to 'clarify a few points' after he said he would 'punch a nazi'.

He sounds about 12. And free speech =/= I'd punch a nazi. A threat is physical violence isn't adult debate!

NiceGerbil · 31/01/2021 18:26

In short. Free speech isn't 'that person I disagree with I'd like to kick the shit out of him/her'.

How does this walker person think it is???

thinkingaboutLangCleg · 31/01/2021 18:26

The Daily Mail cast as a champion of free speech. I’ll just leave this here while I laugh myself silly.

And there I was expecting Robinmoirawhite to give some examples of the Daily Mail opposing free speech. Come on Rob, educate us.

Original poster
SunsetBeetch · 31/01/2021 19:11

@RobinMoiraWhite

The Daily Mail cast as a champion of free speech. I’ll just leave this here while I laugh myself silly.
Eh? We're talking about the campaign set up by the students. Did you read the article?

Oh don't tell: no, you didn't because it's in the Daily Mail

*In short. Free speech isn't 'that person I disagree with I'd like to kick the shit out of him/her'.

How does this walker person think it is???*

Quite.

OP posts:
thinkingaboutLangCleg · 31/01/2021 19:15

The Guardian article says the students wanted a forum for their hopes of opposing repressive regimes (ie what thousands of student political groups already do) and helping minority voices to get heard (ie what every socially conscious student website and publication is already doing).

In other words, exactly what they’ve got now.

thinkingaboutLangCleg · 31/01/2021 19:31

The Guardian got a long and detailed comment from Inaya Folarin Iman, a director of the Free Speech Union who led work on the project. Iman said:

“I have always been very open about the FSU’s involvement and sponsorship … No doubt the students who have contacted you see themselves as supporting free speech, but the Free Speech Champions project is unequivocal that it is an indivisible right and a fundamental civic virtue.”

Iman is a British-Nigerian woman. But obviously not the kind of minority voice they want to get heard.

2Rebecca · 31/01/2021 20:52

I think students like rebelling. The woke crowd were rebelling against their laid back free speech parents and now a later generation is rebelling against the woke crowd's "we are right and you are wrong and we will ban you" authoritarianism

sashagabadon · 31/01/2021 21:12

Good for her. Yes hope her union is successful

Whatsnewpussyhat · 31/01/2021 21:27

The woke crowd were rebelling against their laid back free speech parents and now a later generation is rebelling against the woke crowd's "we are right and you are wrong and we will ban you" authoritarianism

That would be nice if it was the youth who said fuck off with your repressive ideology and thought control.