Students and lecturers alike are divided on whether Kent has a free speech problem.

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The debate has ramped up after the government announced 'landmark proposals to strengthen free speech at universities.'

The education secretary, Gavin Williamson, has warned against “unacceptable silencing and censoring” at university campuses as he unveiled tougher measures such as appointing a Free Speech Champion to investigate whether situations of no-platformed speakers or dismissed academics are unlawful.

However, people working throughout the university don't believe this is a real issue.

Becky Thompson, president of the Christ Church Student Union, said: "Overall, this is a non-issue. This is something that should be debated on campuses and has been widely for the last 50 years.

"The real issue is the shameless attempt to smokescreen over the important things. We should be talking about tuition fees, rent rebates, student welfare - these the important problems; freedom of speech is not.

"I think the idea that there is this 'cancel culture' gets exploited by racists and other purveyors of hate speech. You can say things as long as it doesn't harm other people."

Becky Thompson and Ellie Lee put forward their views on the free speech issue

In 2019, for example, members of the Liberty Society at the University of Kent were suspended following allegations of racism.

Of the proposal, Thompson continued: "It is a very shameless attempt to undermine student unions and the way that we operate on campus, protecting our student populations.

"If this legislation was to go through, I think it will open up a massive amount of freedom for people to harm other people on campuses and especially at a time when we have so much social unrest. I think it's extremely dangerous."

Her views were echoed by Matas Skiotys, president of the debate society at the University of Kent, who said: "There's no silencing of opinions. This just doesn't happen at the University of Kent.

"We've had some really controversial speakers come on before, such as Sargon of Akkad and anti-social justice warrior comedians."

In his view, the idea of the Freedom of Speech Champion is counter-productive to the union's job of ensuring students have a say over which guest speakers they want to hear from.

He added: "We as platforms have the right to decide who gets to come on to speak and who doesn't. It's more of a debate on the rights of the platforms to decide who we let on, rather than mass censorship that doesn't really exist."

On the other hand, Ellie Lee, professor of family and parenting research director at the University of Kent insists free speech on campus is an issue and campaigned on it last year.

An example Ellie highlighted cropped up just before the pandemic, when Selina Todd was invited to speak about social class in March.

An open letter opposing her visit was signed by 175 people, including more than 60 professors and lecturers from across the country.

Those signing the letter argued platforming Todd would send a message that 'trans identity is up for discussion' after she openly expressed views the letter called 'dangerous.'

Her invitation was upheld by the University until her visit had to be cancelled due to coronavirus.

Prof Lee continued: "The idea this is a position held by people on the right is something I find very peculiar. The people who benefit from free speech most historically are the marginalised.

"It's absolutely central to any pursuit of any case for equality or freedom, the extension of our rights, the extension of democracy. It's been our right to speak and make our case and to argue back.

"There's plenty of events that have been stopped. But the issue is wider than that. It's more just a culture of nervousness that people experience about getting your words wrong that is antithetical to what university culture should be.

"Part of the project of education is to empower people to be able to speak their minds in front of others - it's a powerful attribute of adulthood."

Though she agrees with the government's paper in spirit, she believes legislation would distract the conversation to court cases about whether a university can be sued.

The professor added: "I don't think you can legislate a love of freedom of expression into being. This is a cultural problem that can only actually be addressed by people talking about it."

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