Category: free speech
Killing Controversy: the silencing of speech
One of the dominant ideas of our times is the belief that certain words and thoughts are unacceptable. From European hate-speech laws to online censorship and no-platforming at universities, free […]
Free Speech in the USA
Anna Kucirkova discusses the state of free speech in the USA. Free speech may be something that we take for granted here in the United States, but do we actually […]
Building A Free Speech Network
Free speech is under threat in universities but there is growing opposition to bans and censorship. This opposition is led by students, student groups and academics. The Speakers’ Corner Trust, […]
Open Letter to The Times on Assad and Academic Freedom
This is a letter to The Times that was not published. We publish a version here with signatures in support. We are happy to add further names, please use the […]
Free Speech University Rankings (FSUR) 2018
The 2018 Free Speech University Rankings (FSUR), sponsored by AFAF, were released today This is an extract from the article by Tom Slater (the FSUR co-ordinator) introducing this year’s findings: […]
Did Heaton-Harris revive support for academic freedom?
On 24 October I received an email from a journalist assuming I’d be ‘outraged’ by the McCartheyism of Tory MP Christopher Heaton-Harris who had written a letter to all the […]
Dare we make a case for colonialism?
I am a Nigerian research student. The main thrust of my research concerns the legacy of colonialism in education in Western Nigeria. The debate on colonialism has assumed tremendous attention […]
Jo Johnson ‘no platforms’ no platform
The universities minister, Jo Johnson, announced today that under the sway of the new Office for Students (OfS) universities must guarantee free speech. If they do not and continue supporting […]
Louise Richardson: free-speech hero
Over 2,640 students’ union officers, LGBTQ+ activists, academics and students have signed a letter demanding an apology from Professor Louise Richardson, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford. What did Richardson do to […]
In defence of unwise speech
Academics must be defiant in their defence of free speech. I want to defend irresponsible speech, unwise speech, offensive speech, threatening speech and vituperative speech. ‘Reclaiming Our University’, a manifesto […]