The War on Free Speech in Higher Education
The pausing of the freedom of speech Act has failed all students, argues Student AFAF, in the first post for their new Substack*
Why did we set up SAFAF? SAFAF came to life because we saw the need to highlight the issues students faced in higher education regarding free speech, free expression and academic freedom. These freedoms were at risk.
The proof that we were right is the announcement by the new Secretary for State for Education, Bridget Phillipson to pause the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act (HEFOSA) a week before it was to come in to force. The new Government has only listened to those voices concerned about where the money is coming in. Students are more than aware of the funding crisis currently being played out in Higher Education in the UK and Ireland; this is in part down to their over-reliance on overseas students’ fees and treating students as a commodity; it’s all about the bottom line.
Let’s review why the HEFOSA came into being. The HEFOSA became law on the 11th of May 2023; the previous Bill was first discussed back in 2021 and received cross-party support; what then would be the reason for “pausing” the implementation of the Act now you might ask, well according to the Secretary of State it was over burdensome; yep that’s all Phillipson said. Surely then it could have gone ahead and work done on trying to ease the admin burden? No, shutting it down completely seems to have been the only step.
While some organisations may be breathing a sigh of relief (you know who you are), it’s crucial to remember that the erosion of free speech for one group sets a dangerous precedent. If we allow this trend to continue, who’s to say what will be deemed ‘problematic’ in the future? The time to act is now. The Free Speech Union is raising funds to seek a judicial review, but grassroots organisations also need to play our part. Joining groups such as AFAF and SAFAF go some way to increasing the voices of those who want to ensure free speech is for all, no matter what your opinion or view is; you should be allowed to make it, so whilst universities have broken up for the Summer, over the next few weeks we need to raise awareness and push to ensure cancellation culture doesn’t become the norm. We welcome all students who wish to sign up to do so and help us take the fight for free speech and academic freedom to every campus in the UK and Ireland.
No one wanted to legislate for free speech, and we never thought we would need to, but we have seen time and time again, speakers, academics and students be cancelled, no-platformed and called all manner of names from bigots to Nazis and framed as far right. We know that this is just not the case, and it is the usual argument made by those who want to curb the free speech of others. We cannot have, in 2024, the idea of free speech for me but not for thee. Now more than ever, we need students to stand up and push back against being silenced by institutions, activist academics, and our fellow students. If we cannot debate, discuss, and challenge each other at university, how can we ever look to engage with tolerance and respect when we leave university? The pausing of the HEFOSA has failed all students.
* Subscribe to the Student AFAF Substack. Follow them on X/Twitter: @StudentAFAF
