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<\/picture><\/a><\/p>\nMore than 40 academics have signed an open letter to the Oxford University Students Union warning them that freedom of speech is at risk after moves to deplatform Professor Kathleen Stock.<\/p>\n
The leading feminist, who was invited to speak by members of the Oxford Union, has been accused by some students of being transphobic over her view that it is fiction to claim \u201ctrans women are women.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scholars, including evolutionary biologist Professor Richard Dawkins, have now joined forces to publicly oppose the student backlash.<\/p>\n
In one of the most significant interventions by academics in recent free speech controversies, the 44 Oxford dons with \u201ca range of different political beliefs, Left and Right\u201d have signed the letter stating universities should be \u201cplaces where contentious views can be openly discussed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The letter,\u00a0published in The Telegraph on Wednesday<\/a>, said the academics condemn the student union\u2019s decision to sever ties with the Oxford Union after it refused to withdraw an invitation asking Stock to speak.<\/p>\n \u201cProfessor Stock believes that biological sex in humans is real and socially salient, a view which until recently would have been so commonplace as to hardly merit asserting,\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>the letter stated.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhether or not one agrees with Professor Stock\u2019s views, there is no plausible and attractive ideal of academic freedom, or of free speech more generally, which would condemn their expression as outside the bounds of permissible discourse.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Stock, who quit her job as a lecturer at the University of Sussex in 2021 after being targeted by activists over her views on gender identity, said this week that she still planned to take part in the event.<\/p>\n Speaking to Times Radio on Tuesday, she said: \u201cI\u2019m due to speak at the Oxford Union and some people really don\u2019t want me to \u2026 despite the fact they\u2019ve had Martin McGuinness, OJ Simpson after his trial, David Irving, and various other people.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked why she is seen as \u201cdangerous,\u201d the philosopher replied, \u201cWell, because I\u2019m afraid that my presence punctures a certain kind of fantasy version of events\u2014a fantasy version of the world as it were\u2014because I don\u2019t believe some things that young people are encouraged to believe absolutely.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The academic has since thanked fellow scholars for their support in signing the open letter.<\/p>\n \u201cGrateful to the Oxford faculty who signed an open letter standing up for the Union\u2019s right to invite me, and have others hear me speak,\u201d she wrote on Twitter.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n She also told The Telegraph that it was \u201cheartening\u201d to see the academics\u2019 commitment to \u201cstanding up in public against authoritarian tendencies.\u201d<\/p>\n Stock is due to give her talk at Oxford Union on May 30, with a protest planned by students opposing her invite.<\/p>\n The Oxford Union, which describes itself as the \u201clast bastion of free speech,\u201d said students will be able to \u201cchallenge\u201d Stock at the event.<\/p>\n In a statement posted on Facebook earlier this month, the Oxford Union said:<\/p>\n \u201cThis format is designed to uphold the Union\u2019s founding principle of freedom of expression for both our members and our guest speakers.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAttendees can use this opportunity to respectfully engage with and challenge Professor Stock\u2019s views.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The society added:\u00a0\u201cGiven the sensitive nature of the themes discussed at this event, there will also be additional welfare resources available on the evening.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMoreover, it will be possible for members to ask questions anonymously, through a link that will be circulated prior to the day of the event.\u201d<\/p>\nWelfare Sessions<\/h2>\n