Lack of critical thinking at universities again!

[LadyBracknellsHandbagg]

You would think that the people running our universities would be able to decide what free speech is wouldn’t you? How about they start with not treating the stating of biological reality as hate speech? How have these supposedly educated people become so captured?

www.theguardian.com/education/2025/apr/11/university-of-sussex-record-fine-confusion-freedom-of-speech-rules

It makes you wonder why universities have in-house legal and compliance teams, if not to figure out what to the average lay person is a pretty obvious distinction.

Vivienne Stern, the chief executive of Universities UK, said:..
“The question we have asked the OfS is whether they are suggesting that it is always inappropriate to place restrictions on speech or material which is bullying, harassing or abusive, or only in some circumstances? And if the latter, then which circumstances?”

Unis like Sussex have already answered that question for themselves: they have shown a high level of tolerance for bullying, harassing or abusive speech or material as long as it's directed against GC/biological realists.

The hypocrisy and self-delusion is blatant, but they are so busy feeling victimised they don't hear themselves.

Guardian uncritically reports performative bewilderment.... | Mumsnet

Totally agree with what you say theilltemperedqueenofspacetime!

Thanks! I've asked for that thread to be deleted to save dilution of effort.

So, in my thread, which I asked to be deleted, I said:

Guardian uncritically reports performative bewilderment....
0 replies

theilltemperedqueenofspacetime · Today 09:46
....of people who think only their own free speech counts:
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/apr/11/university-of-sussex-record-fine-confusion-freedom-of-speech-rules
I realise that the fine wasn't about the way in which an academic was prevented from working by bullying, vandalism and threats which the authorities encouraged. But you'd think this 'journalist' would at least mention it.

It’s very disappointing and enraging in equal measure. All the thousands spent on fees for young people to be taught to…shut down their minds and follow the herd. Pointless.

You're welcome, and may I say I love the economy of expression in 'to save dilution of effort' - I hate love the way some people can say in a few words what I would burble on about over several sentences😒
If asked on a form to 'describe yourself in six words or less' you can just write
'SUCCINCT'😄

I know the Guardian is a lost cause, but increasingly we seem to have two cultures (like the US) which just can't communicate with each other any more.

People I know who work in the public sector and academia are utterly steeped in (what I think of as) nonsense. And I cannot talk to them!

There's a Black Mirror episode ...

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

... where AI makes it so that soldiers 'see' opposing combatants and civilians as cockroaches. Trans ideology did that to how my friends and relations see me 😪

Which makes me pessimistic about every court case and every political development. Truly, they walk among us 😱

I love how they keep trying to minimise what dr stock went through as some protests. These arse holes would be screaming bloody murder if a trans member of staff suffered even 1% of what she went through yet instead of protecting dr stock they defended the bullies and vilified dr stock.
The way Sussex uni is pushing back against the fact that they're being forced to stop illegally discriminating against gc staff and students I'd incredible, and shows just badly that uni needs a complete overhaul and the replacement of all managerial staff.
I really do hope that other uni bosses are panicking and finally seeing the folly of obeying the TRAs.

I know some young people who now do not want to go to Sussex uni specifically as a reaction to its behaviour towards Dr S then, and its behaviour now.

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/many-uk-universities-trans-inclusion-policies-contravene-equality-law

AR has an article. I was looking at some of the Trans & NB policies and it doesn’t take much to see where they have completely over stepped. Salford for example have replaced the PC of gender reassignment with gender identity (apparently everyone has one) because they thought it more appropriate.

@theilltemperedqueenofspacetime im
so sorry that has happened 💐

I read thd guardian article and thought “play stupid games win stupid prizes” and did like the no nonsense vice chancellor Sir David Bell, vice-chancellor at Sunderland University, said: “We’re not overreacting as we’ve never had any free speech problems in Sunderland. We’ll take a look at our policies given the publicity around the Sussex case.
“However, we don’t envisage making any changes as we’ve always had a sensible, pragmatic, tolerant and, crucially, balanced attitude here.”

Odd isbt it how the performative bewilderment only affects certain totally captured universities while others seem to manage it all perfectly well

Good news

Imagine where we’d be if everyone decided to replace key words in legislation because they considered their own words more suitable!

I certainly wouldn’t want my children going there.

He [Prof David Green, University of Worcester vice-chancellor and chief executive] said there was no need to fine Sussex. “The policy changed as soon as new vice-chancellor Sasha Roseneil started in 2022. A highly critical report of Sussex’s failures would have achieved the objectives of strengthening democratic culture and encouraging vice-chancellors and university leaders to champion freedom of speech in future.”

No, it wouldn't. Only the threat of massive fines is going to get them to make any meaningful changes.

Utterly insane. What is it with these people?

Exactly.

And according to a lot of (bonkers) TRA (il)logic, as Dr Stock has short hair she must be (checks notes) at the very least 'non-binary'. So actually it was all dreadfully transphobic.

I actually think it's going to take massive fines, loss of student income, and also job losses and accountability from those who tried to impose totalitarian control and create a McCarthyist atmosphere.

Why on earth would any overseas student (most of whom know what a woman is) want to pay through the nose to go to Sussex or any comparable university?

And the more they double down, the more press attention there is, the more the doublespeak and wrongthink will be exposed and students will go elsewhere.

Why on earth can’t they just see that their policies breached the law? The actual law, not the law as they wanted it to be or were told it should be, that is.

And as for whining that it creates a culture of silencing or some such, what do they think their policies did to women who spoke out about their rights, identities and safety?

The irony of their position is completely lost on them, ‘we want free speech for everyone, but obviously not for those bigots who believe in biological facts, they can burn in hell’.

It would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious.