Words by Kayla Hanna
The £585,000 fine imposed on Sussex by the higher education regulator (OFS) is not a
divine protection of free speech, but an attack on higher education in a time where
universities have found themselves amid a great financial crisis.
The fine originated from an investigation regarding the resignation of former professor at
Sussex, Kathleen stock, who resigned in 2021 due to protest from students regarding her
opinions on gender identity and her alignment with the ‘LGB Alliance’. Despite uproar from
students, the University of Sussex made numerous statements at this time in support of
Stock.
Former VC Adam Tickell stated that:
‘We cannot and will not tolerate threats to cherished academic freedoms and will take any
action necessary to protect the rights of our community’
Despite this, the office for students has made the decision to give an unprecedented fine
to our university, more than 15 times bigger than any previous sanctions. Under the guise
of ‘significant and serious breaches of free speech,’ finding that policy on ‘Trans and Non-Binary equality’ failed to uphold freedom of speech and created a ‘chilling effect’ of ‘self-censorship’
campus.
The £558,000 imposed on Sussex is a direct attack on any expression of progressive sentiment
in universities, the singling out of a particular policy regarding trans students is an act of
disingenuous pandering to a culture war which disproportionately politicises any
discussion around trans people. The story has already gained significant traction in
national and international media, as well as commentary on social media and continues to
perpetuate divisive and hostile narratives around academia.
Vice- Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil has commented on the matter in an article for
Politics Home:
‘We will strongly contest these findings and have grave concerns about the implications of
its decisions for students and staff, especially those from minoritised groups’
‘The suspicion must be that this was a partisan scapegoating. The sadness is that this
might have had a very different conclusion. Sussex will not be the last to face the challenge
of a debate on gender, sex and identity that has become toxic’
In an act introduced by the previous government, the ‘higher education freedom of speech
act’ enabled the office for students (OFS) the ability to impose fines and sanctions on
universities for failing to uphold free speech. The legislation was conveniently halted by the
Labour government amidst concerns surrounding student demonstrations and protests
against the Israeli government and reinstated in January of this year.
Ironically, it seems that freedom of speech at universities does not include the right for
students to demonstrate opposition to the opinions of internal staff on their opinions of
transgender people or on global events such of that as Palestine.
Editors note: Here at The Badger we openly support and will continue to advocate for Trans rights!