Campus censorship "an epidemic"

[Guest MattP]

We've touched on this before but more and more stories and sources appear to be coming out about how so many student groups seem intent on blockcading freedom of speech and thought at our Universities.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/campus-censorship-an-epidemic-at-uk-universities-as-aberystwyth-edinburgh-and-leeds-named-among-most-a6818896.html

 

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/feb/02/free-speech-universities-spiked-ban-sombreros
 

The stifling of free speech at the UK’s universities is now “an epidemic” as it is revealed students’ unions (SU) are four times more likely to put bans in place on campus than the universities themselves, according to new data.

Launched by online magazine spiked, 2016’s Free Speech University Rankings (FSUR) have shown 90 per cent of institutions are now censoring speech, up from 80 per cent in 2015, as Aberystwyth University and the universities of Edinburgh and Leeds are among those for being the most restrictive.

 

The most common things to result in bannings were debates or support revolving around Israel, Muslim clerics, lad culture, abortion, divestment, athiests and secularists.

 

Some of it is so hilarious it barely merits a mention, one university banned Sombreros on campus on the grounds of them being "racist" towards Mexicans, I imagine that's like being referred to as being anti-Irish for having a pint of guinness. Publications such as The Spectator, The Sun, Daily Star and Charlie Hebdo were also banned in certain universities.

 

The NUS also officially condemned Israel and UKIP but refused to pass the same motion on ISIS.

[Vacamion]

Students have, generally, always been know-nothing wazzocks with ideas of their own self-importance which exceed reality.

I say this as an ex-student, who laughed at all the PC stuff that went on in the early 90s.

Censorship of anything short of incitement or bullying is wrong. If you don't like what's being said, either argue with it or leave the discussion.

[leicsmac]

Vac is pretty much right.

 

You want to take on hateful, divisive ideology (and you should), then you invite it in and beat it down in debate, you don't close your eyes and ears and pretend it isn't out there - it only makes it stronger.

 

Echo chambers are not a good place for critical thought.

[Raw Dykes]

I was following all this stuff closely until recently. I stopped because it was just too depressing.

 

1984 appears to be becoming a grim reality very quickly. Hopefully something will change soon.

 

You wouldn't believe how bad it is.

 

One example: a Warwick uni student spoke up about a ludicrous "consent class" set up to teach all male students not to rape. Someone seriously thinks that people rape because they don't know it's wrong. As well as being idiotic, it's also insulting to imply that all males are rapists by default. The student in question is now a pariah. He was abused online and in real life - being called a rapist just for disagreeing with a braindead and offensive class he was forced to take. Would anyone stand for a "How to not blow up innocent civilians" class for just Muslim students?

 

One student was forced off campus because a rape victim thought he looked like her attacker. Yes, you did read that right.

 

I forget which, but there is a uni in the US that states that a meritocracy is a bad thing. Saying that "the best person for the job should get it" is offensive somehow.

 

There's a movement over there called Black Lives Matter, which is essentially the KKK for blacks and without the stigma. There was a story where a group were marching around the campus and were shouting at students trying to study quietly in the library. One girl got upset, and a BLM activist shouted, "Fvck your white tears!" at her. They're trying to get white lecturers to admit their "white privilege." People get death threats for so much as disagreeing with these people. One ringleader was an activist claiming how oppressed he was. Turned out he was the son of a multi-millionaire.

 

One lecturer sent out an email saying that students should be free to work out for themselves what Halloween costumes they want to wear, as a response to hysterical students wanting anything that could be seen as offensive to anyone to be banned. The students managed to get him and his wife, also working there, out of their jobs.

 

If you want to be royally pissed off, look up "safe spaces", "trigger warnings" and intersectionality/the progressive stack.

 

Rich kids at uni are playing oppression olympics - all trying to be the biggest victim in order to gain the most sympathy. What they're oblivious to is the fact that they are wealthy young people at the most prestigious universities in the world.

 

Radical feminism and identity politics is now the establishment, so fvck you if you're a man or white. God help you if you're both.

[Guest Mee-9]

At our uni some people tried to set up a UKIP society, bearing in mind there is a society for every other political party, even the Monster Raving Looney Party.

 

This quickly got shot down and banned by the Student's Union.

 

I don't agree with UKIP but surely this censorship can only be a bad thing. 

[Voll Blau]

Student politicians in 'being arses with ideas above their station and strange views' shocker.

[leicsmac]

I was following all this stuff closely until recently. I stopped because it was just too depressing.

 

1984 appears to be becoming a grim reality very quickly. Hopefully something will change soon.

 

You wouldn't believe how bad it is.

 

One example: a Warwick uni student spoke up about a ludicrous "consent class" set up to teach all male students not to rape. Someone seriously thinks that people rape because they don't know it's wrong. As well as being idiotic, it's also insulting to imply that all males are rapists by default. The student in question is now a pariah. He was abused online and in real life - being called a rapist just for disagreeing with a braindead and offensive class he was forced to take. Would anyone stand for a "How to not blow up innocent civilians" class for just Muslim students?

 

One student was forced off campus because a rape victim thought he looked like her attacker. Yes, you did read that right.

 

I forget which, but there is a uni in the US that states that a meritocracy is a bad thing. Saying that "the best person for the job should get it" is offensive somehow.

 

There's a movement over there called Black Lives Matter, which is essentially the KKK for blacks and without the stigma. There was a story where a group were marching around the campus and were shouting at students trying to study quietly in the library. One girl got upset, and a BLM activist shouted, "Fvck your white tears!" at her. They're trying to get white lecturers to admit their "white privilege." People get death threats for so much as disagreeing with these people. One ringleader was an activist claiming how oppressed he was. Turned out he was the son of a multi-millionaire.

 

One lecturer sent out an email saying that students should be free to work out for themselves what Halloween costumes they want to wear, as a response to hysterical students wanting anything that could be seen as offensive to anyone to be banned. The students managed to get him and his wife, also working there, out of their jobs.

 

If you want to be royally pissed off, look up "safe spaces", "trigger warnings" and intersectionality/the progressive stack.

 

Rich kids at uni are playing oppression olympics - all trying to be the biggest victim in order to gain the most sympathy. What they're oblivious to is the fact that they are wealthy young people at the most prestigious universities in the world.

 

Radical feminism and identity politics is now the establishment, so fvck you if you're a man or white. God help you if you're both.

 

We've had this discussion before and we stand on very different sides to the debate - for instance I disagree entirely with your view on most of the BLM movement (directly comparing them to the KKK, really?). I also think that rich people are and remain the Establishment - and it just so happens that most of them, in the US and here, happen to be old white men. But other points you make are solid.

 

But I would never, ever actively try to stop you from airing them. That's wrong in so many ways.

[RobHawk]

The whole point of university is that it gives people the opportunity to open their minds and debate issues. The problem is Universitys are now constantly competing for new students and any bad publicity will be seen as potentially affecting this. 

 

Disapointed to see where i work in the top 5 worst for banning things. I was and still am shocked the banned the poledancing society! 

[David Guiza]

I'm currently reading 'Trigger Warning - Neil Gaiman' as I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to Human Rights and it's ultimately the area of Law that I want to work in.

 

Completely agree with Vacamion above with regard to the student attitude for starters, particularly at Russell Group Universities. My girlfriend graduated from Warwick last summer and some of the stories that came out of there were embarrassing. One parituclar example even made it to the national press which centred about students complaining that their basic human rights had been infringed because their protest, about nothing in particular, was police marshalled (by a very small police presence I must add). It's almost as though there was a desperation to be violated or assaulted by the police in order to make a name for themselves.

 

As has been alluded to already, there are so many people who will say something is categorically wrong simply because they do not agree with it. I for one think UKIP are a pile of sh*t but I would never go as far as to say they shouldn't exist. It's clear that they speak for quite a decent sized proportion of the public, as illustrated by last years general election. I was all for a change in the voting system to allow more Green MP's to be represented, even though it would mean more UKIP representation also.

 

I do however think some people are desperate to criticise some people who are offended (it's a never ending circle haha). Particularly with feminism, yes there are some mega-feminists who give them a bad name, but it's because of 'feminists' why women can even vote and a valued part of society rather than just baby makers and housewives (though I'm sure many would love to return to those days). I don't think anybody should ever be criticised for trying to make a change for the better, be it race, gender or whatever which so many people seem to jump on.

[Finnegan]

Young people in being stupid shocker.

[Raw Dykes]

We've had this discussion before and we stand on very different sides to the debate - for instance I disagree entirely with your view on most of the BLM movement (directly comparing them to the KKK, really?). I also think that rich people are and remain the Establishment - and it just so happens that most of them, in the US and here, happen to be old white men. But other points you make are solid.

 

But I would never, ever actively try to stop you from airing them. That's wrong in so many ways.

 

Alright. I might have got a bit carried away there. I'm just annoyed that racism is becoming more prevalent in a time when I thought it would be pretty much dead. I think being colourblind regarding race is the way forward. I would have thought that was obvious to most sensible people not so long ago. We have no say in the colour of our skin, so why should we take pride or shame in it? Why should we be punished or rewarded for something outside of our control?

 

Movements like BLM are only doing damage to race relations in the long run.

 

I forgot to mention that they are actually, without a hint of irony, calling for racial segregation in universities. It beggars belief.

[Finnegan]

"God help you if you're a white male." lol

Lmao. Yeah it's a tough world out there. I personally feel like I deserve a medal just for getting through the day without being acused of raping and oppressing minorities.

[Guest MattP]

We've had this discussion before and we stand on very different sides to the debate - for instance I disagree entirely with your view on most of the BLM movement (directly comparing them to the KKK, really?). I also think that rich people are and remain the Establishment - and it just so happens that most of them, in the US and here, happen to be old white men. But other points you make are solid.

 

But I would never, ever actively try to stop you from airing them. That's wrong in so many ways.

 

I terms of history and actions of course not, but having watched that Reggie Yates documentary on them the ideology of many of the members was pretty much that of the KKK just in reverse. They even assaulted a white person who wanted to march with them alongside giving him a barreload of racist abuse.

 

There does seem to be a very strange tolerance towards non-white racism from certain groups and it's something I've never understood.

[Guest MattP]

"God help you if you're a white male." lol

Lmao. Yeah it's a tough world out there. I personally feel like I deserve a medal just for getting through the day without being acused of raping and oppressing minorities.

 

Except if you are white, poor and male you are now in a tough position with prospects, you might not be subject to a few more stop and searches but you won't receive any sort of help that similar people who have those problems from ethnic minorites get when actually looking for work, getting into a university or being fast tracked through a public service desperate for more non-white faces.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/34667100/poor-white-boys-get-a-worse-start-in-life-says-equality-report

 

 

Not sure if this was you just trying to show how hip you are again but attitudes like that really don't help the matter, just because you see a lot of rich white men in positions of power doesn't mean you should laugh and mock at those who happen to find themselves in the worst demographic of the lot for this day and age.

[Wymsey]

MattP, are you a teacher or related?

 

Feel as if you're giving members lessons.

[Guest MattP]

MattP, are you a teacher or related?

 

Feel as if you're giving members lessons.

 

Haha, certainly not.

[Raw Dykes]

I terms of history and actions of course not, but having watched that Reggie Yates documentary on them the ideology of many of the members was pretty much that of the KKK just in reverse. They even assaulted a white person who wanted to march with them alongside giving him a barreload of racist abuse.

 

There does seem to be a very strange tolerance towards non-white racism from certain groups and it's something I've never understood.

 

Non-whites can't be racist, Matt. Racism is about structures of oppression, and since whites are the dominant race, non-whites have nothing to gain from discriminating aganst whites, therefore they cannot be racist. Neither can women be sexist.

 

This is actually what people will tell you. They're rewriting the dictionary. I predict that rape will be redefined next so that only white people can commit it. Feminists claim men sitting with their legs apart is abhorrent, but then also try to cover up stories of mass sexual assault whenever the attackers have dark enough skin. A man explaining something to a woman is now an offence, but thousands of Muslims groping and raping girls in the street is a non-story.

[Finnegan]

I terms of history and actions of course not, but having watched that Reggie Yates documentary on them the ideology of many of the members was pretty much that of the KKK just in reverse. They even assaulted a white person who wanted to march with them alongside giving him a barreload of racist abuse.

There does seem to be a very strange tolerance towards non-white racism from certain groups and it's something I've never understood.

For me it's all about power.

The KKK are so notorious because they were, at their prime, representative of the wealthy majority in power, using fear and violence to keep an already oppressed minority down.

Whilst this lot are undeniably a bunch of morons that'd have MLK spinning in his grave, they represent a minority with little power.

That's not to say they can't damage people's lives and it's not to say they should be dismissed entirely as harmless but they're clearly not on a par with the KKK at their peak for impact or power and making the comparison probably doesn't help your argument.

That's without even pointing out that I'm not aware they're rounding up white professors and hanging them from trees.

[Finnegan]

Except if you are white, poor and male you are now in a tough position with prospects, you might not be subject to a few more stop and searches but you won't receive any sort of help that similar people who have those problems from ethnic minorites get when actually looking for work, getting into a university or being fast tracked through a public service desperate for more non-white faces.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/34667100/poor-white-boys-get-a-worse-start-in-life-says-equality-report

Not sure if this was you just trying to show how hip you are again but attitudes like that really don't help the matter, just because you see a lot of rich white men in positions of power doesn't mean you should laugh and mock at those who happen to find themselves in the worst demographic of the lot for this day and age.

HOOOOONK HOOOOOOOONK HOOOOOONK WOOOOOOP STRAWMAN ALERT STRAWMAN ALERT!!!

[Guest MattP]

Non-whites can't be racist, Matt. Racism is about structures of oppression, and since whites are the dominant race, non-whites have nothing to gain from discriminating aganst whites, therefore they cannot be racist. Neither can women be sexist.

 

This is actually what people will tell you. They're rewriting the dictionary. I predict that rape will be redefined next so that only white people can commit it. Feminists claim men sitting with their legs apart is abhorrent, but then also try to cover up stories of mass sexual assault whenever the attackers have dark enough skin. A man explaining something to a woman is now an offence, but thousands of Muslims groping and raping girls in the street is a non-story.

 

The total disappearance of feminism in regards to the mass migrant rape was one of the most telling political stories in terms of attitude we've seen for a long time, there has become a hierachy of rights now for minorities with Islamic ones pearched right at the top, immune from criticism for almost any behaviour.

[RedSoxUK]

The more 'high risk' figures are banned from SU events, the quicker the fire rises, and universities do something about PC and the way free speech is tarnished.

 

We're not on the same level as USA or Canada, but there's a line we're close to crossing.

[Guest MattP]

For me it's all about power.

The KKK are so notorious because they were, at their prime, representative of the wealthy majority in power, using fear and violence to keep an already oppressed minority down.

Whilst this lot are undeniably a bunch of morons that'd have MLK spinning in his grave, they represent a minority with little power.

That's not to say they can't damage people's lives and it's not to say they should be dismissed entirely as harmless but they're clearly not on a par with the KKK at their peak for impact or power and making the comparison probably doesn't help your argument.

That's without even pointing out that I'm not aware they're rounding up white professors and hanging them from trees.

 

But this has absolutely nothing to do with 2016, if history played any part in judging the morals and values of groups people today we'd make much more of a fuss over the Arabic slave trade than the trans-atlantic one but we don't, yet again, it seems to be find anything and everything white people have done, continue to remind them of it whilst everyone and anyone else gets a completely free pass from the so called "progressives" who now intend to dominate debate and silence anyone who disagrees with them.

 

Racist actions from the BLM should be dealt with in exactly the same robust way it would be from a member of the KKK, but deep down you seem to think it's far easier to squeal like a girl about something totally irrelevent to try and discredit any arguments being put forward. It's quite sad.

[Guest MattP]

HOOOOONK HOOOOOOOONK HOOOOOONK WOOOOOOP STRAWMAN ALERT STRAWMAN ALERT!!!

 

 

Think I'll leave this for a while and come back when we have things to respond to, remind Ken about his white privledge later.

[Finnegan]

Lmao you've literally just strawman'd like two posts ago and now you're accusing me of going off course? Stop clutching at straws Matt.

I'm not saying their ethics aren't deplorable (although, again, I'm not aware of them stringing anyone up?) I'm just saying that they don't cause much of a global sensation because they don't instill the same level of fear.

On the whole, they're no real threat to "the white race."

[Finnegan]

Think I'll leave this for a while and come back when we have things to respond to, remind Ken about his white privledge later.

Translation: I'll have to wait til Ken turns up and starts spouting nonsense so I've got someone to argue with who'll make me seem like the reasonable one instead of some knee-jerk conservative comparing some protesting idiots to the KKK.