A philosophy student overheard through the wall of his university accommodation room saying “veganism is wrong”, and “gender fluidity is stupid” was threatened with expulsion by his university (GB News, Mail, Telegraph).
Robert Ivinson told the Mail the incident took place when he was in his first year of studies in 2018, and that a university representative had banged on his door to tell him a neighbour had complained.
Mr Ivinson said a disciplinary investigation was initiated after a student next door in halls of residence at Exeter University heard the comments, which were made while he was on the phone to a friend as part of what appears to have been a fascinating, eclectic and almost entirely free form conversation.
When an officer from the university’s estate patrol banged on his door to tell him his austere and aloof female neighbour had complained, the mature student was shaken.
“It was like the Stasi had come to my door,” he said. “He stuck his foot in my door and said you’ve been saying some very offensive things.”
Despite apologise to officials for the disturbance, Mr Ivinson maintained his right to speak freely in his own room. “I was totally private apart from that someone heard me through a brick wall.”
He says he was then hauled before a disciplinary hearing and questioned over his comments.
“The first thing they read out was that I had said veganism is wrong. I couldn’t believe it – I thought I was mishearing them. I asked them to repeat it three or four times because I didn’t believe I was sitting there for saying that veganism is wrong.”
While he accepts making the comments about gender fluidity and veganism, he maintains other statements he was alleged to have made had been misheard, such as that President Assad of Syria was “a good guy” (he says he stated the dictator was “not a good guy”), and that “people should not parade their sexuality in a gar bar” (he insists that while uncomfortable with public displays of affection – gay or straight – he had no problem if gay people wished to demonstrate their sexuality in bars of clubs).
Following the late-night knock on his door, Ivinson was hauled before university officials and put on a “behavioural contract” for the remainder of his studies. In a follow-up letter, the university informed him he had been found guilty of harassment, and warned that he would be expelled if he breached any other of the university’s rules.
“It hurts me that in this country freedom of speech can now mean so little. It’s shocking that a Russell Group university can act this way,” he told the Mail.
Now studying a masters in philosophy at Exeter, Mr Ivinson said he has felt unable to speak about his ordeal, which happened in 2018, for fear of repercussions. But after gaining support from the recently established Committee for Academic Freedom he found the courage to do so.
Speaking to GB News about the episode, Ivinson said he is concerned about the direction free speech is taking in Britain, and he wants to live in a society where all perspectives are heard because he “likes talking” to people from across the political spectrum.
“What I don’t like is discourse getting shut down and then people not being able to exchange views on these things that are very important, part of this ongoing sort of societal dialogue that we have about who we are and where we’re going to go.”
Edward Skidelsky, director of the Committee for Academic Freedom and a philosophy lecturer at Exeter University, said: “It’s extraordinary that in 21st-century Britain eavesdroppers can be rewarded, and a student punished for remarks made to a friend in the privacy of his room.”
“Robert’s case once again underlines the insidious erosion of the freedom to express opinions and ideas which is playing out at our universities.”
