Campaign of bullying and intimidation at Sussex University vs Professor Kathleen Stock

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Absolute disgrace. Posters on campus calling for her to be sacked. Academic colleague tweeting that he agrees with this. twitter.com/FrancescoFv37/status/1445727937660076032?t=-Di7mRf5sznFvvzww8UI2w&s=19 I saw a tweet saying there was a burning in effigy. Can't confirm this but nothing would surprise me now. Time for Sussex staff, students and alumni to put their heads over the parapet.

I liked Sophie Scott's calm but very firm insistence on the importance of biological reality and the very relevant point that the term transphobia is almost meaningless.

@Igneococcus

Thank you so much

I've tried the envelope before but I don't use this laptop for my email so I've never actually seen what the email link looks like. I'll get my email sorted out on this laptop now.

Thank you so much for explaining it.

@ApplesGalore

I was at Sussex on Saturday (it was an open day, so very busy). As mentioned upthread a demo kicked off at about 12, probably 15 or so protestors. Numbers rose quickly to at least about 50, all masked and mostly hooded. Chanting, flag and banner waving and leafletting the passers-by. Pretty unpleasant stuff. The leaflet was amateur to say the least, badly written, swearwords, saying "join us" but of course no contact details.

It's a good few years since I was supporting my children with their UCAS applications, but I can safely say if we'd encountered anything like that on an Open Day I would have had every digit crossed that the university concerned would drop off the shortlist. I remember Open Days as very akin to school open days/evenings, i.e. everybody on best behaviour, conspicuously well-behaved students picked to show us round and answer questions, campus looking as if the estates team had put in a special effort to clear off litter, graffiti, weeds, and so on. I can't understand why security at Sussex didn't just move the protestors on. I can see why they didn't call the police to deal with a breach of the peace. That would probably have been even worse PR.

Here's some more fab PR for Sussex. (it's a Mail exclusive so I'm using its link.)

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10107377/Controversial-trans-charity-Mermaids-received-1-85m-year.html

Controversial trans charity Mermaids received £1.85m income in last year and trained staff at 59 schools, 12 social services and 10 NHS Trusts - including students at Sussex Uni where feminist professor is being hounded by activists, accounts reveal

Sussex has indeed fallen off the shortlist (to be fair it was an outsider for other reasons). My DC doesn't want to live in fear of being cancelled.

Training for 4th year Pharmacy students at Sussex - Mermaid’s annual statement is here

I have no problem with students demonstrating or protesting.

A bit more general political awareness snd action would go amiss, IMO, and I think students in Bristol were right, for example, to protest the new police powers bill. (Peaceful demonstration would have been better but many witnesses say police I’ve reaction sparked the violence..).

Students have a right to free speech too.

I also cringe at the ‘model students / best behaviour’ model. This really put off students of mine at Oxbridge where the string quartets played in every college and there wasn’t even a leaflet or flyer or notice board that signalled any engagement with contemporary culture at all.

What I do object to, and think serves Sussex badly, is students being supported to attempt to crush free speech and bully, abuse and intimidate individuals.

No problem with protests against regimes, laws, even individuals if it is someone like Donald Trump (rich, white, male, world leader). But hiding behind masks and hoods to harass and intimidate a lesbian woman whose views are mainstream and does not hold a position of power, that is shameful IMO.

Agreed apples - a woman who now needs a bodyguard to go to work - this is not the same as a normal student demonstration.

Lovely update from Stockton's crowdfunder, today.

What's the Stockton fundraiser? I know you cant link to it but something to help me find it?

Latest email from Sussex Uni Vice Chancellor to staff is encouraging:

"As you will know, over the past two weeks, the University of Sussex has vigorously and unequivocally defended the right of a member of our staff, Professor Kathleen Stock, to exercise her academic freedom and lawful freedom of speech. We have clearly and consistently said that all members of our community have the right to work and learn, free from bullying and harassment.

These freedoms and protections apply to and benefit us all. A vital part of a healthy University community is the ability to discuss, debate and respectfully disagree with a wide range of views and beliefs. This is all the more important when the rights of people to hold the beliefs in question are protected by law, as is the case for those with gender-critical views which is a protected philosophical belief.

In law those characteristics that are protected are: age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

The University cannot and will not tolerate discrimination based on protected characteristics, including sex and philosophical belief, and we will take action through our policies and procedures if this happens."

Sussex University have just tweeted that they're defending Kathleen Stock - and also that gender critical views are a protected philosophical belief. And rounded it off with they won't tolerate discrimination based on protected characteristics, including sex and philosophical belief!

Prepare for an incoming twitter meltdown...

Wow, great to hear Sussex Uni stepping up. Wonder how 'unsafe' this will make those demonstrating students feel.

I didn't expect that! Jolly good.

Wonder how much it has to do with Boris's statement in the Times? Maybe with a bit of encouragement more people will develop spines.

The University cannot and will not tolerate discrimination based on protected characteristics, including sex and philosophical belief, and we will take action through our policies and procedures if this
happens.

Well, that's good. Although I query 'if' and the total lack of action to date.

Also the comments in response to that tweet are utterly depressing.

This online talk next week from the Royal Society might be interesting - Academic Freedom: Right or Privilege?
royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2021/10/science-and-civilisation-lecture-2021/

Apologies, @alreadytaken and anyone else I have confused! I was actually referring to Jo Phoenix and getting my academics mixed up.

In my defence, there's a lot going on, both with the legal challenges and reporting this month.

@TheABC no worries - done some gardening for Jo Phoenix, this "bog standard" woman supports as many as possible.

Sussex are trying to prepare their defense for the employment tribunal they fear they may face - talk and no action is not going to cut it.

Thank you Sprouts

@MummBRaaarrrTheEverLeaking

Sussex University have just tweeted that they're defending Kathleen Stock - and also that gender critical views are a protected philosophical belief. And rounded it off with they won't tolerate discrimination based on protected characteristics, including sex and philosophical belief!

Prepare for an incoming twitter meltdown...

Fanfuckingtastic

@jeansnothappening

Latest email from Sussex Uni Vice Chancellor to staff is encouraging:

"As you will know, over the past two weeks, the University of Sussex has vigorously and unequivocally defended the right of a member of our staff, Professor Kathleen Stock, to exercise her academic freedom and lawful freedom of speech. We have clearly and consistently said that all members of our community have the right to work and learn, free from bullying and harassment.

These freedoms and protections apply to and benefit us all. A vital part of a healthy University community is the ability to discuss, debate and respectfully disagree with a wide range of views and beliefs. This is all the more important when the rights of people to hold the beliefs in question are protected by law, as is the case for those with gender-critical views which is a protected philosophical belief.

In law those characteristics that are protected are: age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

The University cannot and will not tolerate discrimination based on protected characteristics, including sex and philosophical belief, and we will take action through our policies and procedures if this happens."

That is really good.

Went to hunt out Kathleen's book today as I wanted to purchase to support her. Trafford Centre showing 1 in stock but mysteriously missing.

The guy looked in various places, including out back. I said it's controversial and maybe someone has hidden it - He says that does happen.

Completely out of stock to order, but managed to find a copy on eBay that is in stock and being delivered next week.