Freedom of speech case sudy
- 1. FREEDOM OF SPEECH A review of issues arising from upholding staff right to present opinion and their role in presenting an objective account of ideas.
- 2. An Overview • A member of staff has expressed their personal view of the actions of the Chinese Government in Tibet. • These remarks, made in a lecture, have been inline with personal views expressed through the institution’s portal. • Students have been, and expressed this formally, offended by these comments and judge them to be harassment. • Students have further expressed that her behaviour in boycotting Chinese institutions and are indirect discrimination. • A learner-led campaign against this has been launched
- 3. Equality and Diversity Issues • The right for lecturers to express their own views, outside of their role for the institution. • Lecturers, as with other college staff, are professionals ands as such a have code upon which they should base their actions, remaining impartial or balanced in what they present. • Will this influence their ability to identify and respond to potentially discriminatory practice, behaviour or language in an unbiased manner. • There are additional issues around the “Position of Trust” status that is more prevalent in FE settings. • The university has clear guidance on the discrimination and harassment. • The issue is causing concerns over relations between student groups and this lecturer
- 4. Proposed Actions • Investigate the events, taking statements from staff and students. This should include colleagues of the lecturer and students who are not putting forward concerns of harassment, in order to ascertain if aspects were presented in a balanced way and if debate was encouraged • Review the planed Scheme of Work and other resource materials that are used with this unit. • Review the Use of IT, with particular reference to social networking platforms. Suggest a “period of quiet” to the lecturer on these issues, until this matter is resolved. • Meet with the student group and if necessary or useful the Student Union to resolve any potential conflict. Assure them that discrimination is not tolerated.
- 5. Lessons learnt • The current open and free platform approach to the institutions social networking site, needs a review. New guidance should be distributed to all staff. • Staff should be clear in understanding that their personal views should not be presented in a way that may suggest that they represent the institution. • Academic boycotts should not arise in any connection with the institution. • A staff development programme around the presentation and handling of sensitive topics may be a useful addition to the induction programme.