Anglia Ruskin University SAFAF

ARU Student Academics for Academic Freedom (ARU SAFAF) advocates for academic freedom and the right of freedom of expression for ARU students.

Our Aims and Activities

We engage our members in weekly debate sessions, in which we address a wide range of topics that are core to ensuring academic freedom and free speech across UK higher education and wider society.

As we are a non-partisan society, we encourage members to learn how to effectively advocate for their views as well as build tolerance and resilience when faced with opposing views. We at ARU SAFAF believe that even if one disagrees with what another says, one should still defend the other’s right to say it.

Our weekly meetings consist of alternating informal open forum discussions and formal debates, with the topic of the week announced in advance.

In addition to our weekly meetings, we regularly invite guest speakers to not only hold talks and panel discussions about topics related to free speech, but also others such as politics, the law, culture and academia.

We also aim to go on trips with members to attend events and conferences to observe academics debate about hot topic issues in academia and those with wider free speech implications, offering fantastic networking opportunities.

All communications within ARU SAFAF, both in person and online, are subject to Chatham House Rule.

Student Academics For Academic Freedom (SAFAF)

ARU SAFAF is the first university branch of SAFAF – a growing non-partisan organisation of students dedicated to promoting and defending free speech and academic freedom for university students across the UK and Ireland, with representatives from over 18 universities.

We highly encourage our members to also become members of the wider SAFAF network and be part of a growing movement of students who stand up for their right to express their views within academia.

Members of SAFAF are regularly informed of upcoming events, connect with fellow SAFAF members across the UK and Ireland and can even write essays, articles and opinion pieces on the SAFAF Substack.

Where to Find Us

Anglia Ruskin University – Anglia Ruskin SU

LinkedIn – ARU Student Academics For Academic Freedom

Instagram – arusafaf

X – @ARUSAFAF

Photo Credit: Mohammed Tawsif Salam (2012) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.