A free speech event would cause "harm"...?
Today marks one year since Victoria University held its rescheduled and revamped event on free speech – a very watered-down event compared to the one they’d originally intended!
The event was revised following backlash from a handful of students over the purported “harm” a free speech event could cause on campus.
The original plan would have seen speakers including Jonathan Ayling, and one of us (Michael) discussing how universities can support freedom of speech effectively on campus (we don't have to point out the irony to you!), in a public area at the heart of Victoria’s Kelburn campus.
The students’ complaints led to it being delayed and then reorganised as a very controlled and carefully crafted event in a lecture theatre. The appointment of Corin Dann as moderator ensured there was no real exchange of arguments among the panelists who simply presented points in allocated time slots.
Jonathan and Michael were still included, but separated across two panels, along with eight others, none of whom took a classical free speech line.
The entire situation was emblematic of a much broader problem that we, and the Free Speech Union, have documented for years. But, with extensive coverage by NZ’s media and the Free Speech Union, the saga was a wake-up call to many who were not aware that academic freedom was in trouble on New Zealand campuses.
And now, just a year later, key legislation the Free Speech Union extensively campaigned for is moving through Parliament.
But we need your help to take it even further.
You might think you have no skin in the game, but free speech on New Zealand campuses is crucial for our nation at large.
The Bill, if passed, will mean:
✅ Universities will be required to actively foster an environment in which controversial issues can be discussed and diverse opinions be expressed.
✅ Universities will not be able to deny the use of their premises to an invited speaker because of their ideas or opinions.
And now, you can have your say on it.
Parliament’s Education and Workforce Committee is asking a couple of simple questions that we can all respond to.
Let’s say loud and clear how desperately this legislation is needed to protect the speech rights of students and academics on campus.
The Free Speech Union’s Inter-University Council on Academic Freedom (IUCAF) and the New Zealand Initiative (NZI) will both make submissions on the Bill, making important recommendations to ensure that this legislation has the greatest possible impact:
Universities should not be required to include phrases in their free speech statements that could be used to suppress the expression of ideas and opinions (such as "in a respectful manner”). (IUCAF)
The clause relating to institutional neutrality (Section 281A 2(d)) should be tightened and its meaning clarified. (IUCAF)
Universities should be required to publicly publish annual report findings on the climate for academic freedom on their campuses. (IUCAF)
The role of Ombudsman for Academic Freedom should be established. (NZI)
An independent complaints procedure for free speech violations should be instantiated. (NZI)
You too can make your own comments quickly and easily here before 12th June.
Not convinced academic freedom is in trouble? Read on...
The saga at Victoria University, and the response of some academics, confirmed that not enough people understand the fundamental principles and importance of free speech, even within academia.
Provost Prof. Bryony James holds one of Victoria University’s most senior positions. Earlier in the year, she wrote an op-ed in Victoria’s staff newsletter, showing her weak grasp on the concept of academic freedom, despite universities being required to uphold it in accordance with the Education and Training Act.
Prof. James summarised the response to Victoria’s free speech event as follows:
What surfaced, from one direction, was genuine anxiety about amplifying views that might cause harm. What this provoked from the other direction was, at best, a mischievous and provocative misinterpretation of the word “postponed” (swapping it for that most charged of words; “cancelled”). At worst it was vitriolic petulance, best summed up in the quote, by one of the parties; “Good news, kids. It’s OK; words aren’t violence.”
It’s unclear how Prof. James knows that the anxiety about Jonathan and Michael speaking at the event was genuine. As it happens, many of the claims student activists made about how worried people were strained credulity.
A few students, for example, were described as ‘freaking out’ over potentially hearing ‘right-wing voices’.
VUWSA President Marcail Parkinson said she was concerned that students would not be able to avoid the central ‘Hub’, where the event was originally going to take place, ‘if they didn’t feel comfortable being around the debate.’
Prof. James also described a social media post by the Free Speech Union stating that ‘words aren’t violence’ as ‘vitriolic petulance.’ If the Provost of Victoria University views a simple statement of fact as ‘vitriolic petulance,’ what does that suggest about the climate for free speech there?
At the very least, Prof. James’ reaction should remind us that what some New Zealand academics describe as ‘harmful’ or ‘violent’ speech is often simply speech that they disagree with.
Research by the Free Speech Union and a comprehensive report from the New Zealand Initiative both reveal a widespread culture of fear in New Zealand’s universities. Last year’s saga with Vic Uni underscored the problem.
But it doesn’t stop there...
One of us (James) had his position as Senior Lecturer in Classics at Victoria University disestablished in 2023 as part of wider cuts. The university argued that the decision was unavoidable for financial reasons. However, they turned down applications for voluntary redundancy from two of Dr Kierstead’s more senior colleagues - applications which, had they been accepted, would have saved the university considerably more money than Dr Kierstead’s redundancy did.
Just over a year later, Victoria University advertised a role which looks an awful lot like the one that Dr Kierstead had performed with considerable success for over a decade.
Dr Kierstead has been a vocal supporter of free speech, academic freedom, and university reform. His New Zealand Initiative report on administrative bloat at New Zealand universities, which found that our universities have amongst the highest bureaucratic burdens in the English-speaking world, was released only a few months before his position was disestablished.
We do not know for sure that his views contributed to his redundancy, but you can’t blame us for thinking it might have. The Free Speech Union is assisting Dr Kierstead to dig into the matter further.
Academics must be able to speak, question, and challenge ideas without fear of retribution.
Without a shakeup, how will our universities flourish, progress knowledge, and send graduates who can cope with hearing different perspectives out into the world?
Let’s ensure Parliament knows we care about this.
Together, we'll keep making a difference.
Dr Michael Johnston & Dr James Kierstead
Members of FSU's Inter-University Council on Academic Freedom
SHARE THIS POST
