Monday 07-10-2024 - 18:28

You can tackle racism and be pro-free speech. Agreed?

Durham SU's expectation that Durham Union Society (DUS) follow its own EDI improvement plan should not be surprising. We made it clear a year ago. Last year, DUS committed to culture change work, and Durham SU granted it access to Freshers' Fair as an incentive and to show support. It failed to do the work as promised and would not provide evidence of any improvement, so we could not make the same concessions.

If DUS is unhappy with the consequences of its inaction and no longer wishes to complete the work, then it should say so. We can't decide for it, but students deserve clarity. Is DUS still "determined to ensure that every Durham student feels that the Union can and should be a place for them to explore their intellectual curiosity and enjoy the friendship and community of the Durham Union"?

We are concerned, based on past incidents, that the risk of racism is too high if this work is not done. I do not want more students coming forward with accusations of racism in DUS spaces, feeling their complaints are mishandled.

The Free Speech Union, various commentators, papers, MPs and recently-made-former MPs have leapt on a straightforward, transparent advertising agreement as an extreme left-wing position in opposition to free speech.

Apparently, the University must 'robustly deal with' me. I find it all quite amusing, if I'm honest: this was the Union Society's own promise a year ago!  

We have responded because of the straightforwardly inaccurate comments in their widely reported letter. We will publish the letter later in the week. 

Durham University’s disappointing response

The University's reaction is insulting. It problematises Durham SU for opposing racism, and not DUS for failing to tackle racism as it voluntarily promised. The University's statement asks us to 'settle our differences' with DUS. They 'believe' that DUS is working to become more inclusive. This is wilfully naive. DUS actively decided not to collect the data it needed to prove the impact of change, didn't consult with the community as it promised, and is unable to demonstrate more than optimism and window-dressing. The actions of DUS and the inadequate response of Durham University under external pressure shows that only Durham SU is taking this issue seriously.

This University teaches its students to scrutinise claims, question assumptions, and act on the basis of evidence—except, for some reason, when it comes to DUS. If our university is giving financial and practical support uncritically to an organisation with a history of perpetuating a hostile culture on campus, our community needs to know. This information must be brought into the open. This is the approach that Durham University takes with Durham SU, and it should be the same with DUS. 

I will ask Durham University's governing body, Council, to conduct a thorough investigation into the support Durham University has provided Durham Union Society.

We deserve answers.   

Resources

• Response to letter from Toby Young
• Durham SU timeline notes on work with DUS
• Statement from boycott campaign
• Incident from 2020
• Incident from 2020
• Student racially abused 2023