University staff given list of banned 'microinsults' they cannot say to trans people

[ChristinaXYZ]

From the Telegraph. the last para make you want to weep -

A Newcastle University spokesman said: "We want our campus to be a welcoming and safe place for everyone who studies, works or visits here, regardless of gender, race, class, age or disability."

But it would seem they are not bothered about making people feel welcome regardless of sex, as they don't even mention it.

I've just read the Edinburgh guide and as a trans person I'm embarrassed and angry. I bet there aren't other microaggression guides for other minorities or for women. Why does the university feel the need to spew forth 13 pages of utter cobblers to protect the obviously fragile feelings of their probably tiny trans populace.

Why is the trans community being treated with such kid gloves?

When I was at uni, many years ago, I was approached by a fundamentalist Christian student who started preaching fire and brimstone nonsense about how I was going against God and that I would be damned unless I changed my ways. In not so polite terms I told them to 'go forth and multiply' - job done. Have the trans community become such victims that they need protecting by an official document?

It's policing language, it's stifling thought, and it's stifling opinion. Universities shouldn't be safe spaces. They're centres of learning, discourse and argument.

Uugh, after reading it "I" feel like I need a safe space!

@blackwhiteandstripey this is what happens to academics at Edinburgh when students make claims of 'problematic' views

thetab.com/uk/edinburgh/2021/04/09/students-accuse-edinburgh-lecturer-of-spouting-racist-and-sexist-comments-70862

I was going against God and that I would be damned unless I changed my ways.

Maybe he had a point. Look at you now, in a nest of vipers.

Can you expand on why?

because students would not be expelled for saying "I wanted to be a boy when I was little". You are making up stuff and then get angry at it.

Can't understand why anyone has an issue with 'youre either a man or a woman' not being used.

From Crysanthemum5's link.

There is a good number of ignorant staff members that need anti-racist, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, Islamophobic, and ableist training.”

Does it take practice to reel these lists off so effortlessly?

The Fringe might be interesting this year.

With micro-aggressions here, can teeny-weeny ones be far behind?

[quote blackwhiteandstripey]@Chersfrozenface

Ok. Switch "student" for "member of staff" in my comment.

So what happens to them? Are they sent straight to classes for re-programming re-education?

I'm still not seeing what could possibly, legally be done to a member of staff who was caught "micro aggressing" anyone. [/quote]
Depends what the university's disciplinary policy is. Edinburgh University considers "bullying and harassing others" gross misconduct - does "microagression" count?

Other universities have more detailed lists of behaviour considered "gross misconduct". Bath University includes "abusive behaviour" and "acts of discrimination, bullying, harassment or victimisation of employees, students or visitors to the campus which compromise that person’s dignity". Would "microagression" count?

What do you think the document is for, then catherina?

If people transgress the policy, what ought to happen to them? Because I’m thinking it’s not that they’ll get taken out for an ice cream, or put forward for a scholarship.

Presumably, some corrective action is planned. As someone who approves of the policy, what do you think might be appropriate?

Here's what happens to staff who step out of line in universities. Edinburgh Uni is named in several pieces, and it seems likely that some of the contributions that don't name the writer's university (most don't) may also be Edinburgh.

www.gcacademianetwork.org

This one is relevant to this thread:

Checking in from the University of Edinburgh. The postmodern thought and language police are very active in my subject area. Their latest is an instruction to check our course materials for 'cis-normative' assumptions and monitor ourselves, our students and each other for 'micro-invalidations'. We're supposed to use all the Stonewall-approved terminology, and talk about sex being assigned at birth and people having a true gender and so forth. I'm in a junior role and on a temporary contract, and my life wouldn't be worth living if I was to object out loud - there are people on my team who could do quite a lot of damage to my career prospects. Between the thought police, the authoritarian bullies of the Staff Pride Network and UCU branch, and the managers who nod approvingly from their rainbow-themed zoom backgrounds, it's all very unpleasant.

What is the problem with normal rules for discourse? Why can't the University have a document that asks staff and students to be polite and respectful of each other? This is reasonable, but it seems it isn't enough?

Why the need to specify what speech is out of bounds, and what behaviour is 'problematic'?

Also wondering if anyone has a link to where this document lives, I'd like to read it.

I would think there will be some staff writing out their complaints for a law suit... ceasing a hostile environments is a crime isn’t it?

Well, offence not a crime

[quote blackwhiteandstripey]@Chersfrozenface

Ok. Switch "student" for "member of staff" in my comment.

So what happens to them? Are they sent straight to classes for re-programming re-education?

I'm still not seeing what could possibly, legally be done to a member of staff who was caught "micro aggressing" anyone. [/quote]
I imagine that what would happen would be an ever increasing level of complaints about anything they said that could even vaguely fit within these guidelines co ordinated by the aggressive wing of the LGBTQ+ Student body. Several female academics in using professor stock and professor freedman have talked about this happening to them. Repeated complaints by certain students which are wearying & stressful. See also Jonny best experience

So you’re trying to do your job under the threat of constant complaints, you become massively stressed, no one backs you publicly, it’s suggested that you need more “training” & a failure to attend will be seen as future confirmation that you are a transphobes

So could you be directly sacked for violation of these nonsense rules?, I doubt it. Could your working life my made so miserable & intolerable that you left? Absolutely

I am a 6ft 1 woman - nothing skinny about me. I went into the female toilets - did my business - and walked out into 3 men who were identifying as female.
All three were wearing gender neutral clothes and were displaying behaviours more commonly associated with what was previously known as females - think make up, talking about boys they fancied etc.

All three were over 5ft 10, well muscled and looked physically fit - they stood between me and the exit. They chose to block my exit, laugh when I asked them to move and asked if I felt threatened.

Yes - I fucking did - after the third request to move out of my way I pushed one out of my way. This was reported as anti trans aggression and I was expected to apologise to them ( I have not).

Solution - all toilets are now gender neutral and all my female colleagues hate going to the toilet.

This is also a University - not being able to take a pee and feel safe for risk of upsetting < 1 % of the population simply demonstrates how bloody mad the world has become.

@Sophoclesthefox

What do you think the document is for, then catherina?

If people transgress the policy, what ought to happen to them? Because I’m thinking it’s not that they’ll get taken out for an ice cream, or put forward for a scholarship.

Presumably, some corrective action is planned. As someone who approves of the policy, what do you think might be appropriate?

The article about that lecturer says:

A spokesperson for the University of Edinburgh told The Edinburgh Tab: “The University is committed to upholding freedom of expression and academic freedom and facilitating an environment where all are able to inquire, study, and debate.

“It is inevitable – and often desirable – that in such an environment, different ideas within our community will contradict or conflict with others. However, a challenging environment need not be a hostile one. The most effective way to foster a free and frank exchange of views is on the basis of mutual respect.

“This applies even where some may find those ideas offensive or immoral, and a commitment to freedom of expression includes facilitating debate that others wish to restrict or obstruct.

“The University is also deeply committed to tackling racism and has taken important steps to strengthen our commitment to addressing contemporary and historic inequalities with respect to race. The Race Equality and Anti-Racist Sub-Committee, led by Professor Rowena Arshad, is taking forward an ambitious agenda and undertaking a range of activity which aims to institutionalise racial equality and address structural racism.

“Clearly, if individuals have concerns about anyone’s behaviour then they can raise these through the University’s formal complaints channels which are there to ensure any issues raised are dealt with fairly for all concerned.

“Details on how to make a complaint to the University are available here.”

@MissBarbary

Edinburgh lost all credibility when it renamed David Hume Tower.

Sheffield apparently has blackballed Isaac Newton.

Surely 'blackballing' isn't allowed!

@CatherinaJTV it does say the university is committed to academic freedom however this individual's head of school has written to all the students basically disowning the staff member. And he says his working life is being made intolerable

No that was just a literal black ball (lucky dip with a bag of coloured balls - if you drew out the black one you were ‘it’/lost - like drawing the short straw, though you probably can’t say short these days less you trigger those under 5”2). So actual ball not... balls...