Will academic freedom be upheld at the University of Kent?
Academic mobbing became more vicious last week. Academics from the University of Kent at Canterbury (UKC) and other universities appealed in an open letter to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen Cox, […]
Rise up for academic freedom!
Reflections on the past decade can be depressing. Two articles from the end of that decade are particularly dispiriting because they bring into focus the absurdity of contemporary university culture. […]
Free Speech Guidance: An analysis of recent documents
These advice notes were produced by Bryn Harris of the Free Speech Network. Their purpose is advise to students and student societies on key guidance documents relating to freedom of […]
In defence of debate – oppose all mandatory training on controversial topics
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), a group campaigning for free speech in the US, opposes all forms of mandatory training for academics or students: Liberty cannot exist […]
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 […]
