Prof Jo Phoenix vs The OU - Employment Tribunal Thread 6

[ickky]

Started on 2nd October at Watford Employment Tribunal (Radius House, 51 Clarendon Rd, Watford WD17 1HP 01923 281750)

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Email [email protected]
Header should read
URGENT CURRENT CASE - Public Access Request - J Phoenix - The Open University - 3322700/2021

Ask for access link and pin and please give your name and address in the email as they check when you connect to the tribunal.

The clerk will ask you (in a private remote room) to put your camera on to verify, this involves looking at you, but no ID is needed. You may turn off your camera after this pointless and unnecessary process.

Abbreviations

JP - Jo Phoenix, Claimant (C)
OU - The Open University, Respondent (R)
J - Regional Employment Judge Young
P - Panel or panel member
BC - Ben Cooper KC, Counsel for C
JM - Jane Mulcahy KC, Counsel for R
OU Departments & Networks:
HWSRA - Health & Wellbeing Strategic Research Area
FASS - Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
SPC - Dept of Social Policy & Criminology
KMi - Knowledge Media Institute
GCRN - Gender Critical Research Network

OU witnesses

PB - Dr Paraskevi Boukli, Former Senior Lecturer Criminology, Deputy Head SPC 2021-22
IF - Prof Ian Fribbance Dean of FASS
MW - Prof Marcia Wilson, Dean EDI, 2020-23
CM - Caragh Molloy, Group People Director 2019-23
LD - Dr Leigh Downes, Senior Lecturer in Criminology (in SPC), Academic Lead for EDI FASS 2019-21
PK - Peter Keogh, Professor Health & Society, Member RSSH
CW - Dr Christopher Williams, Senior Lecturer History
KS - Kevin Shakesheff. PVC for Research and Innovation
DD - Dr Deborah Drake, Senior Lecturer Criminology, Head of SPC 2018-21
CT - Catherine Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
LW - Louise Westmarland, Prof of Criminology, Co-Deputy Head SPC, 2018-21, Current Head SPC
JD - John Domingue, Prof of Computing Science, Director KMi, 2015-22
SD - Shaun Daley, Head OU’s Resourcing Hub. Head Strategic Resources, Co-Chair OU’s LGBT+ Staff Network
HBC - Helen Bowes-Catton, Lecturer Social Research Methods
NS - Nicola Snarey, Assoc Lecturer Eng Language
NatS - Natalie Starkey, Outreach & Public Engagement Officer Sch Physical Sciences, 2019-22
CT - Cath Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
SJ - Samantha Jacobson, Employee Relations Case Manager
RH - Richard Holliman, Prof Engaged Research, Head School Environment, Earth & Ecosystem Sciences, 2019-22. Member of Investigation Panel investigating the C’s grievance

Witness for JP:

SE - Sarah Earle, Professor Modern History Uni of Oxford, Founding member GCRN

Tribunal Tweets - twitter.com/tribunaltweets

TT coverage so far - https://tribunaltweets.substack.com/p/professor-jo-phoenix-v-the-open-university

Prof Jo Phoenix Witness Statement (scroll to bottom of page and download)

jophoenix.substack.com/p/phoenix-v-open-university?sd=pf

Thread 1 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4905118-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-2nd-october-whispers-ben-cooper?page=1

Thread 2 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4913946-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-2?page=1

Thread 3 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4917480-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-3

Thread 4 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4918479-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-4

Thread 5 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4919223-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-5

Enter J and panel. Everyone stands up (didn't know they did that).

They are back

I'm wondering if it was discrimination on the pc of sexual orientation as well as GC beliefs. If you believe lesbians are same sex attracted not same gender attracted surely that would be the case?

Crap, got kicked out whilst having a coughing fit and finding a lozenge. Is everyone else still in? I'm never getting back in again, am I?

Judge asking about RH's recommendation to suspend the letters.
Did you put the rec in writing to KS?

Panel going to bit where RH recommends c open letters being taken down

Panel: did you put the recommendation in writing which is what you were told to do?

RH: our email was the recommendation in writing

I'm wondering if Arif Ahmed, in his capacity as "Free speech tsar" (not that I recall the Tsars being especially keen on free speech) for universities is monitoring this, or has got someone doing it for him. He definitely should have.

I doubt it. I've made my peace with it, now.

RH: email was passed onto VCE by people services

Panel: were you told c decision

RH: Yes, that letter would not be suspended.

J: when were you told

RH: can;t remember. Shortly after.

J: how told

RH: I think by Sam Jacobsen. Only reason we were told was it could inflame debate on line and cause more distress

Told it would inflame the debate online if they took down the letters.

Rh- We were told that the letter would not be suspended. Told this shortly after this email via sam Jacobson. One of the reasons we were given was that taking it down could inflame matters online.

Do they chose not to take down the letter because they wanted a public sign that they had burnt the witch

Finished for today, the unwell witness should give evidence online if at all possible, JM will find out.
10 am Start tomorrow.

Making us wait another day for DD.

You didn't miss DD if that makes you feel better. Though goodness knows how BC's going to fit them all in.

Judge on the case of witness who has thrown a sickie. Brava.

Have also seen outrage online if anything threatens the sanctity even in the month (sometimes two) after Pride month ('we've only just had Pride!!!!!').

Someone in the room pointed out that the covidy witness won't have access to the bundle even if they are well enough to give evidence remotely.

But Jo is a lesbian, is Pride no longer for her? (I know the answer as far as this bunch of ideologues are concerned)

The sick witness won't have access to the bundle, so probably won't give evidence. Also there are still 5 others and BC said he would need 3 hours with DD.

Even if they start on time, I can't see them getting through all the witnesses.

Surely in this day and age that can be sorted - secure courier overnight?

I have visions of DD going into court like darts players do their walk on to the music, highfiving and fistbumping as she makes her way to the seat.

You forgot Lent, nothing shifts in Lent - ask Peter "I'm self i.d.ing as a Catholic" Keogh.

They could give her access to the electronic bundle, but they prob won't.

TT commentary

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1714287530596880843.html