Censorship at Edinburgh University ‘out of control’, says student

Comments come after institution named among UK's 'most restrictive' when it comes to clamping down on free speech

The University of Edinburgh (AFP/Getty Images)

A student at the University of Edinburgh has claimed that on-campus censorship at the institution is “out of control.”

Writing for online magazine spiked, first-year Charlie Peters’ comments have come amid the ongoing debate that the stifling of free speech at universities - particularly among students’ union - is becoming “an epidemic.”

The student described how, upon starting at the Russell Group institution last September, he realised he was “foolish” to have thought university was meant to encourage unfettered debate.

He wrote: “Soon after I arrived, I learned of the bizarre ‘safe space’ and No Platform policies on this campus and other campuses across Britain.” This, he said, is what led him to recently launch an online campaign to save free speech.

Along with a petition which has gathered almost 1,300 signatures of support, Mr Peters called for the Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) to defend the freedom of speech in an open letter.

In the letter, Mr Peters described how he believed an institution which upholds the principles of free speech and diversity is “superior” to a students’ association that “patronises its own students by insinuating that they cannot handle opinions that differ from their own.”

He wrote: “We are adults, we do not need condescension or safeguarding. EUSA does their students a huge disservice by engaging in this malpractice.”

On the whole, he wrote that censorious ideas have to be tackled if free speech is to be saved, particularly in students’ union circles and among many academics, adding that “encouraging liberal students and professors to have the courage to stand up and be counted” is equally important.

The EUSA has come under fire for imposing a strict costume and fancy dress policy amid notions of ‘cultural appropriation’. More recently, though, the students’ union was criticised for almost removing a student from a council meeting after she raised her hand and shook her head during a debate for ‘violating space space rules’.

According to the Free Speech University Rankings from spiked which were published in January, results showed 90 per cent of institutions are now censoring speech - up from 80 per cent in 2015 - as Aberystwyth University and the universities of Edinburgh and Leeds lead the way for being the most restrictive.

Editor of the rankings, Tom Slater, said: “The bar for censorship is only getting lower, and bans on allegedly transphobic feminists sit alongside bans of allegedly racist sombreros.

“Today, students aren’t even trusted to dress themselves, let alone think for themselves.”

In a statement to the Independent, EUSA president, Jonny Ross Tatam, insisted that EUSA “wholeheartedly” supports free speech, adding how the association is “proud” of the range and quality of on-campus debates.

He said: “From Middle Eastern conflicts to the EU referendum, students at the University of Edinburgh are regularly engaged in lively debate on contentious issues.

“We feel the best way to support free speech is to make sure everyone has equal opportunity to take part in debate, without facing abuse or discrimination. Our students frequently demonstrate that it’s possible to have meaningful, passionate debate without resorting to abuse.”