A nation at a crossroadsLegislation meets the lecture hallNo easy balanceBeyond toleranceBritish universities are facing a reckoning over the boundaries of speech and academic freedom. “This includes things that they may find uncomfortable or shocking,” said Arif Ahmed, director for freedom of speech at the Office for Students. “By being exposed to a diversity of academic thought, students will develop their analytical and critical thinking skills. ”The guidance, released Thursday, arrives at a time when concerns are mounting that the UK’s higher education system has leaned too far into ideological gatekeeping. Multiple groups, including gender-critical academics and pro-Israel organizations, have accused universities of suppressing lawful expression in deference to student protest.The backlash has grown particularly intense in recent years.
