Students at Edinburgh University have called on the vice-chancellor to resign after it was revealed that a gender-critical book launch event was organised by a member of a university LGBT committee.
The member of the university’s LGBT subcommittee, which falls under the university’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee (EDIC), requested that a member of staff organise a book launch event which features prominent gender-critical figure and university lecturer Shereen Benjamin.
This comes after the Edinburgh branch of University and College Union (UCU) sent an email to branch members and senior management staff condemning the event, and accusing university management of failing to protect transgender staff and students from transphobic abuse and harassment by allowing the event to take place.
In response, the book’s co-editors wrote a letter to Mathieson branding UCU’s allegations “astonishing” and “libellous”.
Students at the university have branded the decision a conflict of interest and have demanded the resignation of vice-chancellor Peter Mathieson, arguing that the “clear bias” of management ultimately threatens the safety of LGBTQ+ students and staff.
Internal emails seen by The Student show that a member of the Higher Education Research Group (HERG), claims they were asked by the LGBT subcommittee member to arrange a book launch event featuring prominent gender-critical figure and Senior lecturer in primary education Shereen Benjamin.
The event, organised by HERG, is the official book launch of ‘Sex and Gender: A Contemporary Reader’, of which Benjamin is a contributing author.
It is due to take place on Wednesday, 11 October at 6pm at 40 George Square Lecture Theatre A.
Benjamin will be joined by other contributing authors Cathy Devine and Lisa Mackenzie, as well as the book’s co-editors Alice Sullivan and Selina Todd.
The book’s description states that it is a multidisciplinary “much-needed exploration of the relationship between sex, gender and gender identity”.
The university has “categorically” denied that the application to host the book launch event was submitted by the subcommittee member, but said it would not say who did submit the application.
The HERG member, who is also a member of Edinburgh Academics for Academic Freedom – claimed in an email that they had been asked by the subcommittee member to host the book launch.
Responding to concerns about how the event would be received in a separate email, the LGBT subcommittee member acknowledged that there would be a mixed reaction.
They said: “Optics is a matter of where you stand: some will welcome this event; others will not; and others will be in-between.
“Routledge [the book’s publisher] is an academic publisher of good standing.
“My own view is that it is hard to see this as other than academic activity (and, as such, the principle of academic freedom is applicable) and an academic book launch.”
Edinburgh AFAF previously attempted to host two screenings of the film Adult Human Female – in which Benjamin appears – which were both cancelled due to protests from students and campaign groups.
This led to the university releasing a statement in which vice-chancellor Mathieson outlined his “extreme disappointment” that the event was cancelled, adding that the university was committed to upholding freedom of academic expression.
Some students are calling for Mathieson to resign for his role in overseeing the university’s conduct.
This is not the first time Mathieson has been urged to resign, amid an ongoing pay dispute between UCU and senior management which has left many staff in precarious working and living conditions.
This culminated in a series of protests at graduations in the summer, where students chanted “pay your workers” and handed senior management P45 forms when walking across the stage.
After the events surrounding Edinburgh AFAF and Adult Human Female in April, the university formed a working group on academic freedom and freedom of expression.
At the same time, LGBT and disability subcommittees were also established to address students’ concerns.
However, whilst the academic freedom working group has made proposals regarding new guidelines for student protest and the definition of academic freedom, it is understood that no progress has been made in the LGBT or disability subcommittees since they were first formed in May.
Responding to these claims, Robyn Woof, the Trans and Non-Binary Liberation Officer at Edinburgh University Students’ Association, as well as a member of EDIC, said that the individual’s appointment was “clearly biased” and showed a “pattern of agitation which goes across academia”.
She continued: “I do not doubt that things can get worse for trans students at the University of Edinburgh and will continue to do so unless there is major change.
“I would urge all students to complain to the university, to campaign and protest if they feel able, and to organise with other students.”
A University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: “We expect everyone within our community to exercise their rights to freedom of expression lawfully and for debate to be conducted in a respectful manner.
“We remain steadfast in our determination to facilitate a safe environment where differing views are listened to with tolerance, and we have procedures in place to support members of our community to host events on controversial topics with the safety of everyone on our campus as an absolute priority.”
In a separate statement released on Tuesday, Mathieson added “A lot of discussion has taken place in recent days about an event to launch the book ‘Sex and Gender: a contemporary reader’, on our campus this week.
“This book is an academic publication by a reputable publisher and the event will be an academic discussion of the ideas presented in the book.
“A separate event is taking place on the same evening, also supported by the University, to discuss the representation of transgender rights in the media.”
That event ‘Cisinformed: Disinformation and the Media War on Transgender Rights’ is organised by the Staff Pride Network at 6:30PM in the Davidson Lecture Theatre within the Lister Learning and Teaching Centre.
Mathieson continued: “I want to remind everyone that discriminatory behaviour and language, abuse, incitement or harassment has no place in our community and will never be tolerated. The Respect at Edinburgh hub provides further information on our Dignity and Respect policy, how to raise concerns and what support is available.
“It is my sincere hope that by hosting events such as these, challenging topics can be explored with civility and intellectual rigour. It is only then that we can demonstrate that freedom of speech can be achieved while upholding our commitment to promote an inclusive culture that celebrates difference, challenges prejudice and ensures fairness.”
“University of Edinburgh” by Ipoh kia is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.