I am not sure how many people on here keep up with the Office of Students but I though this press release to day was very interesting
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-and-events/press-and-media/university-of-sussex-fined-585-000-for-free-speech-and-governance-breaches/
Quote below - About time is all I can say!
The investigation concluded that the university breached two OfS conditions of registration. In addition, the OfS is concerned that the university may not have complied, or acted compatibly, with a range of other legal requirements, including in relation to freedom of speech and equality matters.
The OfS launched its investigation following protests calling for the dismissal of Professor Kathleen Stock, a senior academic at the university. She had teaching and research interests relating to sex, gender, and the rights of individuals in connection to these. The OfS has seen no evidence to suggest that Professor Stock’s speech during her employment at the university was unlawful.
The OfS does not currently have a role to act on behalf of any individual. Its investigation was therefore focused on the university’s compliance with the OfS’s regulatory requirements, rather than the particular circumstances relating to Professor Stock.
The OfS has concluded that:
- The University of Sussex’s Trans and Non-Binary Equality Policy Statement failed to uphold the freedom of speech and academic freedom public interest governance principles set out in the OfS’s regulatory framework. This breached OfS condition E1.
- The University of Sussex failed to have adequate and effective management and governance arrangements in place to ensure that it operated in accordance with the delegation arrangements set out in its governing documents, including its scheme of delegation. This breached OfS condition E2.
The investigation also found that a chilling effect arose as a result of the Trans and Non-Binary Equality Policy Statement and the resulting breach of condition E1. By ‘chilling effect’, the OfS means the potential for staff and students to self-censor and not speak about or express certain lawful views. Staff and students may have self-censored as a result of the policy because they were concerned about being in breach of the policy and potentially facing disciplinary action for expressing lawful views.