Counterterrorism on campus: a threat to academic freedom?

The threat of terrorism and risks of radicalization pervade modern life. Universities are no exception and the ‘poisoning of young minds’ is a matter of particular political concern. Nonetheless, the decision of the UK government to place universities, and other educational institutions, under the statutory ‘Prevent Duty’, which requires them ‘to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’, has proven highly controversial. Seen one way, it turns professors into police and students into suspects. Seen another, it enables universities to fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities by protecting vulnerable young people. This paper asks if the policing of speaker events on security grounds is legitimate or if it threatens the legally protected rights of academic freedom and freedom of speech? It considers whether the requirement to counter terrorism on campus fulfils a universal democratic duty to uphold security or is inconsistent with the larger role of the university.

Please note the formerly scheduled - 'Support for the wrongfully convicted: gathering data from the Miscarriages of Justice Support Service' by Laura Tilt has been postponed until Hilary term.