We help them to see the notion of censorship as never really being appropriate.”Īlexandra College holds a series called Alex Talks, modelled on Ted Talks, and students can choose any subject they like, in front of a school of 550 pupils, without censorship. “They make decisions for themselves about what they find acceptable and don’t. The fundamental value we instil in our girls is independent thinking. “In our school, we are preparing students to make their contribution to the world. “The biggest trait young people have to develop is resilience,” said Ennis.

Principal of Dublin's Alexandra College, Barbara Ennis – who prepares young women for college life - says students do not develop in a comfort zone. Oxford's Chris Patten told students to 'embrace freedom of thought, or think about being educated elsewhere' in response to a call to remove a statue of imperialist Cecil Rhodes. Bristol University said it would be 'disingenuous' to give in to protesters and erase history by renaming Wills Memorial Hall, named after its first chancellor Henry Overton Wills - a 19th century tobacco magnate with links to the slave trade. Oxford University’s vice-chancellor Louise Richardson says students need to be exposed to uncomfortable ideas “so they can think about why they feel uncomfortable and what it is they object to”.įor now, common sense prevails in Britain. It has spread to the UK, where there have been campaigns in Bristol and Oxford to wipe out reminders of controversial historical figures on the grounds they would cause offence.

Law professors have been petitioned not to include questions on sexual assault in final examinations, and English departments are allowing students to skip literature with content that may be upsetting. The University of Kansas offered therapy dogs for comfort, Cornell set up a “cry-in” where staff handed out cocoa, and the University of Michigan had a play area with colouring books.Ī talk in Berkeley by the polemicist Milo Yiannopoulos resulted in violent riots when students’ protests at him being given a platform turned ugly.

Law professors have been petitioned not to include questions on sexual assault in final examinations, and English departments are allowing students to skip literature with content that may be upsetting When Donald Trump won the US election, many college campuses offered support services for students they deemed unable to handle the results of the democratic vote. “Safe space” campus culture’s march across north American universities has led to universities stripped of opposing ideas and silent of different voices.

Undergrave free instals