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Should feminists be no-platformed?
HOLLY SMITH, JUDITH SUISSA and ALICE SULLIVAN explain why they will be taking a motion on academic freedom to discuss sex and gender to this year’s UCU Congress
The BBC’s Jenni Murray (left) and spycops campaigner Helen Steel have both come under attack for discussing sex and gender

AT THE University and College Union (UCU) Congress later this month we will be proposing a motion HE32 “Academic Freedom on Sex and Gender.” 

Although academic freedom is a foundational value of higher education and indeed democracy itself, this freedom is under attack. 

It has been deeply disappointing to see the UCU remain silent as case after case is exposed of slander, defamation, misrepresentation, organised attempts to “no platform” and incite harassment, and conspiracies to have female academics sacked. 

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