UCL have left Stonewall

[Fenlandia]

via the excellent Alice Sullivan on Twitter: twitter.com/ProfAliceS/status/1471535974777864195

The full statement:
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/dec/ucl-and-stonewall-diversity-champions-programme-and-workplace-equality-index

This line in the statement made me cheer:
"UCL’s senior leadership team has accepted Academic Board’s advice about the fundamental need to uphold academic freedom and freedom of speech in an academic context, recognising that a formal institutional commitment to Stonewall may have the effect of inhibiting academic work and discussion within UCL about sex and gender identity."

Fantastic.

Aroooogah!

It's all falling down, brick by brick...

Stonewall may have the effect of inhibiting academic work and discussion within UCL
Wow! No weasely words about "not being value for money". Just tells it like it is. Well done UCL.

@senua

Stonewall may have the effect of inhibiting academic work and discussion within UCL Wow! No weasely words about "not being value for money". Just tells it like it is. Well done UCL.

You’re right, that in itself is another step forwards.

Yessss!!!!

Good!
Perhaps sensible to do this in the vacation.

Blimey! Well done UCL. As senua says, no attempt at the value for money excuse.

Good sense at last!

Excellent, and I love that they wrote the actual reason.

Magnificent!

UCL’s senior leadership team has accepted Academic Board’s advice about the fundamental need to uphold academic freedom and freedom of speech in an academic context, recognising that a formal institutional commitment to Stonewall may have the effect of inhibiting academic work and discussion within UCL about sex and gender identity."

Congratulations to the superb feminists at UCL who, I am sure, have been working towards this by providing evidence. No shrieking, no abuse. Just proven facts and solid research. Well done, sisters.

The title of this thread is misleading: UCL 'left' Stonewall years ago. This announcement is that they have decided not to re-join the Diversity Champions Programme and the Workplace Equality Index.

UCL's Provost publicly supports free speech and the ability to 'disagree well' - on all subjects, not just this one. He wasn't solely responsible for this decision but it's a welcome indicator that both he and UCL are prepared to accept the existence of a plurality of views on a topic.

Round of applause for their honesty and sanity!

Apologies yetanotherusernameAgain

I was just so pleased to see UCL's stated commitment to academic freedom, and also reiterating their commitment to equity and inclusion for all

Got both of my doctorates from UCL; feeling extremely proud tonight 👏🏼

@senua

Stonewall may have the effect of inhibiting academic work and discussion within UCL Wow! No weasely words about "not being value for money". Just tells it like it is. Well done UCL.

Well done indeed.

Brilliant news

Excellent statement no obfuscation or weasel words.

Hurrah!

UCL like a beacon of light, there is hope for free speech and women after all!

UCL has a fairly new provost, so maybe he took one look at what was going on, listened to the reasonable voices inc people like professor Sullivan and put an end to all the nonsense that had been going on. It’s going to take a while for things to go back to normal though, more and more colleagues have added pronouns to their signature lately.

I am so, so delighted with this news, had been feeling a bit powerless.

Fucking LOL.

Bye Stonewall.

My alma mater. So proud of UCL

Awesome news!