More than one hundred Oxford students have written to The Telegraph newspaper to distance themselves from those at the university who want to silence free speech.
According to The Telegraph:
The group, from various colleges, has chosen to speak out following efforts by students to cancel an appearance by Prof Kathleen Stock at the university debating society.
In a letter to The Telegraph, they condemn the alleged “harassment, bullying and threats” made against the Oxford Union committee for inviting the feminist, who believes it is a fiction to claim “transwomen are women”, to give a talk at the end of the month.
They write: “We are appalled to see the tarnishing of the reputation of the University of Oxford by the few individuals who seek to silence Professor Stock and punish the Union.
“The society was founded with the key aim of discussing ideas which some may find challenging, as was the University itself. It is not necessary to agree with Professor Stock’s views in order to recognise the dangerous precedent that would be set if ‘the last bastion of free speech’ could not stand firm at this moment.
“Our belief is that there is much to gain from hearing opposing views on important topics, and furthermore reject the notion that Professor Stock’s visit to the Union constitutes any real danger to members of the University or the public.”
They added: “The Oxford Union is part of the city and the university’s heritage. Whilst recognising it is an imperfect organisation, we value it because we value free speech. It is free speech we sign to defend, as the lifeblood of universities, learning, and modern democracies. Those who aim to silence it do not speak for us.”
The university is braced for a major demonstration when Prof Stock visits the Union on May 30. Junior Common Rooms at several colleges have issued statements calling for Prof Stock to be no-platformed.
The LGBTQ+ society is expecting hundreds of students to join the protest “to show support for the trans community”.
The row over Prof Stock escalated after Oxford’s Student Union (SU) voted to block the Union from the freshers’ fair.
The SU said the decision was not related to Prof Stock’s planned appearance and accused the Union of having a “toxic culture”.
Charlie Mackintosh, a politics, philosophy and economics student at New College, Oxford, who recently served as president of the Oxford Union, claimed that the current committee had been physically threatened and shouted at on the street for inviting a controversial speaker.
