Statement following Students’ Guild Debating Society Event

On Friday evening, 22 February, an event organised by the Students’ Guild Debating Society was held on the Streatham campus, featuring the columnist Katie Hopkins on a panel with three other speakers. The organisation of this event has, quite understandably, caused concern across our University community.

Whilst the University would not have chosen to invite this speaker on to our campus, once the Students’ Guild Debating Society had done so and the arrangements for the event had been reviewed by the Guild and the University, there were no legal grounds on which to prevent the debate taking place. We therefore considered that, in line with our legal obligations to protect freedom of expression, we had to ensure that the event could go ahead, whilst we took steps to protect the health and safety of our community and to mitigate the risks of unlawful speech taking place.

The approach taken is aligned with both our usual process for contentious events and also the recent guidance and summary of the law in relation to freedom of expression for universities from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. This advises that the starting point for higher education institutions is that events should go ahead provided careful consideration and mitigating actions have taken place. For the avoidance of doubt, we categorically disagree with the suggestion that to enable debate is in any way to condone the views or positions argued by those taking part in the debate. We also disagree with preventing debate through ‘no platforming’, and are not legally able to, where measures can be put in place to ensure that speech remains within the law.

Our steps for the mitigation of risk included ensuring that all speakers signed a 'Speaker Declaration' committing them to abide by relevant legislation. Detailed arrangements were made to ensure the event could be stopped in the case of any unlawful speech.

The event itself was challenging but well-managed. There were conflicting reports online of an alleged assault on a student. We have not received any formal complaint of an assault. We will investigate fully any complaint received. Estate Patrol and Guild security were in attendance throughout to ensure the safety of those inside and outside the venue.

Events like this are challenging for us all, and this is just one of a huge range of events that take place on our campuses each year. Freedom of expression is of critical importance to our community, and debate within the law is vital. The safety and wellbeing of our staff and students are our paramount concerns and support is available to anyone who was adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by this event and the discussion it has created. Details can be accessed via Exeter Speaks Out.

There will now be a robust review of all aspects of this event to ensure lessons are learnt and improvements made where appropriate.  We will be calling on representatives from across our community to assist with the review, given the complexity and sensitivity of the issues and the passions these issues rightly raise and we will ensure that the outcomes of the review are shared.

We will also be hosting debates on campus on the subject of freedom of expression.

Best wishes,

Mike Shore-Nye
Registrar and Secretary

and

Professor Janice Kay
Provost