Vice Chancellor of Kathleen Stock's University will be on R4 sometime between 8-8.30

[TedImgoingmad]

Just that.

I thought they said it was the Vice Chancellor of Sussex Uni.

Thanks. Just turned on the radio.

Sussex university should be hanging its metaphorical head in shame.

Hmm, maybe he said in the next hour. You might be right @boatyardblues. Was a bit distracted while they were announcing it, as I'd just knocked a glass bottle off the side!

I'm tuned in but haven't heard it yet...

Massively distracted getting DC ready tho!

On now.

It's the Vice Chancellor.

VC on now!

On now

Here we go. Yes, sorry I got it wrong, VC it is.

• [Note from MNHQ: title has now been edited at OP's request]

Justin Webb doing the interview, which is a bonus.

Legal and moral duties. Too fucking right you do. Step up you cowardly man!

Very very complicated issues? Really? Very complicated?

He's the human equivalent of a wet dish cloth.

He sounds terrified!

This is not 'very new' VC.

Yes, I just came here to post that. It is transphobic to mention how afraid he sounds?

Justin Webb being very clear that this is an attempt to bully Prof Stock out of her job

Ok, that was completely pointless. What a spineless waste of space.

@TedImgoingmad didn't he just! Complete non interview though JW did try.

Missed it

I also wondered what on earth he’s afraid of. One would think he’d have full confidence in his own position. But no.

I think it was ok actually. He clearly doesn't have a grip of the scale of bullying across the country, but the support for freedom of speech he articulated is the strongest I've seen from a university.

He sounded absolutely terrified. Thinking before each and every word.

I didn’t think the interview was too bad. He was very clear that no-one should be trying to bully academics out of a job, that academic freedom must be protected, and emphasised the need to listen - which is surely a good thing? Polarisation and refusal to debate is what has got us here in the first place.

The group states that “The rhetoric employed by Kathleen Stock contributes to the environment of dire safety for trans people” 🙄 I have yet to see any evidence for that. I keep politely asking everyone who asserts this but no one is forthcoming. One could much more easily argue that the TRA agenda actively harms all manner of children who, like all of us have experienced, are struggling with the initial stages of puberty, sexuality and growing into their adult bodies and identities. I’m not sure that regressive gender stereotypes, lifelong medication and surgery are harm free or “innate/natural.” At least when I make assertions I have some evidence…

Anyway the interview was only a few short minutes. It was probably the most diplomatic public support that the university could give Prof Stock, and at least she isn’t being pursued in a witch hunt by her own institution.