Issue 147

Labour tries to restrict academic freedom

23rd October 2006

The UCU this week were given an opportunity to respond to the latest controversy relating to the war on terror.

The government has proposed that Lecturers, as well as their other duties, would also be called upon to spy on Muslim and Muslim looking students on their campus. This argument has been sprung from the idea that universities and colleges nurture freedom of speech and multicultural debates throughout its diverse population. Sally Hunt, the General Secretary commented that "Universities have traditionally encouraged debate, allowed students the opportunity to broaden their horizons and challenge opinion."

The debate first started when a document was leaked to the national press. Now this controversial debate is only in its "development" stage, yet the government is keen that university and college staff should "monitor" students in order to tackle extremism. "Wrong! It will alienate them further, and will create unnecessary suspicion" stated Kylie Bartelli, the SU's International Students Officer. Whereas the Communities Secretary, Ruth Kelly, commented that the development of this report was strictly "about sensible monitoring of activities to make sure individual students on campuses are protected".

This controversy that has hit the nation has bred debate and accusations of discrimination and Islamophobia resulting in a united front of refusal to adhere to any such report as this. Abdullahi Arabo, Head of the Islamic society said, " It is ridiculous to even ask the lecturers to spy on the students. Have they become the CIA?". The institutions, students, staff, the NUS and The Equality Challenge Unit have united against the debated report. The President of the Vice- Chancellors organisation stated in a response to the report that "while this is clearly a draft document, there are dangers in targeting one particular group within our diverse communities of students and staff. Not only is this unreasonable but, crucially, it could be counterproductive. The key to this is balance and discussion - and we have made this point repeatedly to ministers.

All of us recognize the challenges facing the UK in strengthening community cohesion and combating extremism, and our institutions are playing their part. Universities UK have recently published guidance to help institutions do this". Some say that this report merely highlights the "anti-Muslim McCarthyism" that is gradually worsening over time, resulting in divisions between the many factions of our society in the multi-cultural UK.

Emma Rogers