Reinstate Free Speech at the University of Edinburgh

Alumnus 2014. I am deeply concerned by EUSA's "safe space" policy : how can you expect students to have a productive and open debate if you make them 'stand to attention' ? "Safe space" policy is a form of intellectual terrorism designed to intimidate dissenting contributors. It is harming free speech and, by its very nature, serving radical ideologies.

Unless you're in a group therapy meeting there's no need for a "safe space." Even then, you should probably be institutionalized if hand gestures can somehow mentally scar you.

This is complete horse crap. How will these people function in the real world if we allow this to continue? I want safe spaces to end, it's nothing but an affront the first amendment and frankly the American Spirit.

These ridiculous, censory 'safe spaces' have no place in a university - grow up!

"Give me liberty, or give me death."

The suppression of free speech by stifling opposing opinions is a threat to schools and society everywhere.

I am a U.S. Law Professor I am appalled to hear that an excellent university such as Edinburgh has such a chilling policy on free speech. I am also sad, but not surprised, that as seems to be happening all over England, France and the US Anti-Zionism has morphed into Anti-Semitism. This makes the chilling of free speech even more dangerous.

As an alumni of the University I strongly believe that dissenting opinions and disagreement are at the very heart of education and progress. A university is supposed to be a place where ideas are challenged. An open debate allows everyone to evaluate ideas and positions on their merits, with a fuller understanding of both sides of the argument. Suppressing dissenting opinions however only creates a meaningless echo chamber where people never engage with any ideas beyond those they already hold. New ideas will, by their very definition, always make someone uncomfortable. They are still essential to education and progress. Students go to a university to be educated. If some are only willing to listen to one side of the argument however, then they have wasted their time as they will never learn anything that they didn't already agree with. If they stop others being able to listen to dissent however then they have not only wasted their own time, but have actively harmed the education of others as well. The real world will not hide it's disagreement from you. Universities are supposed to equip students to enagage in critical debate; to be able to develop their own position and then to defend that position against.challenge. However Edinburgh's 'safe space' policy is woefully letting students down in this regard. Preventing people from even shaking their head or gesturing to indicate disagreement is one of the most ridiculous ideas I have ever heard, and just ensures that when students experience disagreement outside of the university they will be ill-prepared for dealing with it.

truly a disgrace, the purpose of the council meeting is to have meaningful DISCUSSION about ideas, not simply asking someone to leave for reacting to a statement like a human being that actually has tried to reach out to those that brought up the bill

A beautifully articulated defense of the fundamental mission of institutions of higher learning. Let's hope this helps bring about badly needed reforms at the U of Edinburgh.

This "safe space" thing is getting completely out of hand. How do you expect the students to handle the real world if they can't even handle someone disagreeing with them?

"Safe Space" is just another word for apartheid. I thought we got rid of that years ago.

This 'safe space' stuff is getting out of hand. These people look absolutely vapid with the refusal of freedom of speech, the dis-allowance of micro-expressions, and calling this a 'safe space'.

This country was founded on the concept of free speech! Edinburgh doesn't understand what an Inalienable right is.

The idea that indicating disagreement with hand or head movement should be forbidden and punishable by removal from the event or organization is beyond absurd.

I am a canadian and free speech is important. Churchill would be ashamed of how society has become so soft and pc

In the words of Winston Churchill "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."

another college my children will not be applying to...the list continues to grow.

These people are precious little fascists. They need to visit the slums of India for a life lesson. I would not employ one of these people and suggest they are doomed to fail in life. What a waste of space these little Hitlerettes are.

Freedom of expression is vital to ensure that universities continue to cultivate a free exchange of ideas.