British authorities have issued a record fine of 585,000 pounds to the University of Sussex for failing to uphold freedom of speech and academic freedom. The fine follows an investigation that began over three years ago after philosophy professor Kathleen Stock faced harassment and resigned due to her views on gender identity. Stock had argued that transgender women were not women and faced bullying and character assassination before quitting.
The Office for Students said the university’s policy on trans and nonbinary equality had created a “chilling effect” that could cause self-censorship among students and staff. The university defended Stock publicly when she resigned, but the regulator found failures in governance and management processes.
The university condemned the ruling, arguing that it would prevent them from creating policies to prevent abuse, bullying, and harassment. Vice Chancellor Sasha Roseneil vowed to challenge the decision, criticizing the regulator for mandating “libertarian free-speech absolutism.” The ruling comes amid a broader debate over free speech and trans rights in the US, with universities trying to balance free expression and hate speech prevention.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasized the importance of upholding free speech and academic freedom. The regulator, appointed by the previous Conservative government, defended the investigation as thorough and found significant breaches of regulations. The university, on the other hand, called the findings “egregious and concocted.”
This ruling highlights tensions between universities and regulators in the higher education industry. The University of Sussex plans to challenge the decision, emphasizing the importance of addressing the balance between free speech and preventing harassment.
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