Charity Commission response to report on freedom of speech in universities

[stu007]

Charity Commission response to report on freedom of speech in universities

 

Charity Commission publishes its response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights report into Freedom of Speech in Universities

 

The Charity Commission, the regulator of charities in England and Wales, has today published its response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights report into Freedom of speech in Universities.

 

Helen Stephenson, chief executive of the Charity Commission said:

"I am absolutely clear that charitable students’ unions, universities and other higher education providers can challenge traditional boundaries, encourage the free exchange of views and host speakers with a range of opinions, including those who might be controversial or divide opinion."

 

"These activities are entirely in line with their aims to promote education. Our role as regulator is to provide guidance that enables trustees of all charities carry out their activities while complying with their legal duties and responsibilities as charities and where necessary hold trustees to account against that guidance."

 

READ MORE HERE: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/commission-response-to-report-on-freedom-of-speech-in-universities

[ericsbrother]

Most of the notable stories have been as a result of the Student Unions making decision on who can speak or not rather than the University itself. Whilst it is honourable to let the SU take decisions and otherwise be autonomous from the university occasionally the university governing body (or its representatives in the real world) should state that there are certain conditions they have to the use of their buldings and they include or disallow......

Also bear in mind the kind of person who stands for SU president in the first place, usually no-ones first choice on the ballot papers but just above reopen nominations for a new ballot