AN urgent investigation is underway at Durham University after students walked out of an event at which controversial journalist Rod Liddle was a guest speaker – and were later branded “pathetic” by a college principal.

The Spectator associate editor was invited to speak at a Christmas formal at the university’s South College on Friday evening.

But before Liddle began to speak around a dozen students, who had been unaware he was a guest, walked out of the hall in protest before others, offended by “transphobic and racist” comments made on the night, left during his speech.

Some were then outraged when the college’s Principal, Professor Tim Luckhurst, reportedly shouted “at South College, we value freedom of speech” and “pathetic” as they left.

According to the student newspaper The Palatinate, Liddle started his speech saying he was disappointed to not see any sex workers that night – in reference to recent controversy over safety training provided by Durham University to student sex workers – before making “transphobic and racist” statements.

It states: “The Spectator and Sunday Times columnist then claimed the left railed against “science or pure facts”, saying “a person with an X and a Y chromosome, that has a long, dangling penis, is scientifically a man, and that is pretty much, scientifically, the end of the story”.

The Palatinate says he went on to say: “It is fairly easily proven that colonialism is not remotely the major cause of Africa’s problems, just as it is very easy to prove that the educational underachievement of British people of Caribbean descent or African Americans is nothing to do with institutional or structural racism”.

Liddle also talked about the UK’s forced adoption policy between 1945 and 1975, saying that attitudes now put the woman not the child first, and that anger about the policy did not take sufficient account of the child’s mental health and economic circumstances.

He finished the speech with a message about the importance of listening to and doubting people’s opinions.

In videos shared on social media, Prof Luckhurst is heard defending Liddle as “a humorist”.

 

Several student groups have commented and some students were considering protests against Prof Luckhurst.

Durham’s Intersectional Feminist Society launched an open letter condemning Liddle’s remarks and the decision to invite him.

The statement, which has been signed by more than 1,000 people and has received backing from Durham LGBT+ Association and Durham University Labour Club, calls for the South College Principal to issue an apology for hosting Liddle at the event.

The letter cites several students angry and upset about the visit, including one who said: “Durham is not a safe space for LBGT individuals such as myself. I’m furious that this was allowed to happen. If there is no apology or repercussions, I cannot see myself remaining here.”

The student groups called for greater transparency in the way guests at college events are chosen and for students to be made aware of all speakers in advance.

Durham’s branch of the Universities and College Union commented on the situation on Twitter, saying: “Many of us are utterly appalled by what happened on Friday at South College.”

Durham’s Working Class Students Association stated: “Transphobia and racism cannot be defended under the notion of ‘political views’ or ‘academic freedom’ and it has no place on campus, where students are supposed to feel safe.”

Professor Luckhurst has since told Palatinate: “Sincere commitment to freedom of speech is inevitably challenging. It requires us to consider ideas with which we may disagree instinctively. I regard that as a crucial part of the excellent education on offer here at Durham.

“My intention is never to offend. I hope to stimulate robust discussion and debate. I regret any offence that has arisen, but I fear we have no right not to be offended.

“As George Orwell noted, ‘If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people things they do not want to hear.’”

A university spokesman said: “Durham University upholds Freedom of Speech within the Law. As such we welcome diversity of opinions from our students, staff and visitors.

“Protection of the right to free speech extends to discussion of issues that are controversial, including the expression of views which may shock, disturb, or offend others.

“We have been alerted to issues arising from a dinner at South College last Friday evening.

“The University categorically does not agree with the comments reported from a speech given by an external speaker at this occasion, and is concerned at reports that the behaviours exhibited at the occasion fall short of those that we expect.

“The exchange of ideas within the University should at all times be conducted in a tolerant manner. Everybody has the right to live, work and study in a respectful environment.

“We are looking into this as a matter of urgency, and an investigation into the circumstances is now underway.”

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