Extremist Speakers At Universities - Do You Agree With This?

[agchristie]

Much is said about schools recognising and alerting the authorities of signs of radicalism.

Universities are permitted under new compromise arrangements, to permit extremist speakers as long as there is another speaker present who holds opposing views. Do you agree with this?

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jul/17/universities-allowed-host-extremist-speakers-within-limits

[douglas9401]

I predict a rabble. Free speech but not too free.
Looks like a typical political buck passing exercise with inevitable consequences.
Radical activists will rant while 'opposition' are still debating who's going to lead the counter argument.
All this will do in reality is give the really crazy ones their chance to have their moment in court/on TV when their outpourings are banned.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah I do actually

David Irving ( bless ! ) celebrated holocaust denier was enmeshed in this a few years ago - and took them apart on the subject of 'free speech in universities '

we also had IRA speakers telling us why they were blowing up small children in the name of uhuru - I think it was quite instructive and I dont think they got many converts


I think it was Alan Clarke who suggested his own subject should be
" Adolf Hitler - terrible war leader but great politician "

[Prudie]

No I don't think extremist speakers should be allowed in universities at all. From memory its an extremely impressionable time for young adults first free from home and going for anything anti-establishment is de rigeur. Those who want to actively seek out exremist views should go elsewhere.

[Gromit]

Depends on what the definition of an extremist speaker is.

Is Geert Wilders an extremist speaker?
Is Don Black, Erich Gliebe or Mike Guzovsky?
Is Pavel Skachevsky, Mike Savage or Artur Ryno an extremist speaker?

Probably putting any of those on the same bill as a muslim speaker is the recipe for violence and riot. It sounds like a terrible idea.

[sinderella]

I think they should be made to record their bile.....i mean opinions then when there followers commit atrocities they can stand trial with them!

[Peter Pedant]

Gromit you can cut across the Gordian knot of who is and who isnt

by stating they can all speak at university ...

( I have to say I havent heard of half of the extremists of whom you write )

[naomi24]

No, I don't agree with it. These people are our enemies and they should be dealt with as such. There should be no compromise.