LONDON (10th February 2021) – There’s no more room for tolerance at UK universities, according to the results of the latest poll released by the Alliance of Pro-Life Students (APS).
The poll, which sampled over two hundred “pro-life” students from across the UK, found that more than 70% of participants have faced situations in lectures or seminars where they feel “unable to speak” about their views. Nearly a quarter have been “threatened, abused, alarmed or distressed – by actions or words – by another student or academic” because of their membership with a pro-life society. One in three have seen events cancelled due to the “de-platforming” of pro-life speakers. 65% of students have witnessed another student being discriminated against or harassed for holding pro-life views.
These results are being submitted to the parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, who have issued a call for evidence as part of a new inquiry into freedom of expression. One of the seven focus questions specifically addresses the situation in universities.
“These statistics are alarming, yet confirm what we already know – pro-life students are being marginalised and silenced at universities. Institutional policies which refuse to allow certain topics to be discussed don’t just damage free speech – they destroy a culture of tolerance and respect on campus, ruining the chance for all students to engage with people of diverse opinions and understandings. This was made abundantly clear in the results of our survey which found that 53.7% of pro-life students have had a friendship or relationship adversely impacted because they held pro-life views. We trust that the Joint Committee on Human Rights will consider these results carefully as they reflect on the current status of freedom of expression in the UK. Intolerant censorship at our universities inevitably becomes intolerant censorship in wider society,” said Madeline Page of APS.
“Cancel Culture” on Campus – A Wider Trend
The shocking results align with those of a nation-wide poll recently released, which found that a quarter of students across the board are self-censoring due to “cancel culture” on campus.
Indeed, the recent statistics support a widely observed trend of attempts to stop pro-life groups from participating in campus life. Groups at Birmingham, Nottingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Strathclyde universities have all recently faced battles with their respective Students’ Unions in order to get affiliated and officially recognised as a student society. In the case of Aberdeen Life Ethics Society, attorneys were hired and a lawsuit was filed against Aberdeen University Student Association in Aberdeen Sheriff’s Court alleging unlawful discrimination before the society was successfully affiliated. Each group was successful in overturning their ban; if retained, it would have deprived them of access to venues, funding and a place at student Freshers’ Fairs.
Even on campus, many report being bullied or silenced.
Responding to the new survey, Peri Dalkic, President of the Aberdeen Life Ethics Society reported that her group faced online abuse, their female members were branded “fat mutants” on student Facebook groups and the society had condoms thrown at them during the freshers’ fayre.
Georgia Clarke, Co-President of the Oxford Students for Life Society from 2016-17 reported that protesters had become so aggressive with security guards at one event that police had to be called. During another talk, the society was asked to close the curtains while a female MP was speaking to them about gender-selective abortions because the presence of the society and other pro-life students was deemed upsetting to those who could see into the room from outside.
In one severe example of discrimination, a midwifery student from Nottingham University faced suspension and a fitness-to-practise hearing due to her leadership in her pro-life group. Julia Rynkiewicz experienced four months of anxiety before allegations against her – based on her representation of the society at the freshers’ fayre – were dismissed. Last month, she accepted an apology and a settlement offer from Nottingham University in recognition of her unfair treatment.
Ms Page speaking at a pro-life conference
“With advancements in our scientific understanding of life before birth, making support for abortion harder and harder to justify, an increasing number of students are joining pro-life societies every year. Since 2012, the number of pro-life societies at universities has increased from 4 to 16, doubling from 8 to 16 in just 18 months. These societies advocate for a better future by giving practical and material help to mothers in need, while also presenting their views amongst the student body. Discrediting them and shutting them out from campus life is unjust, uncalled for and damaging. It is wrong to make students feel unwelcome simply for having an opinion. We need to reinstate a vibrant culture of learning, discussion and mutual respect at universities across the UK,” continued Miss Page.
