Free speech row as Durham University debate society is banned from fresher’s fair by its student union following racism allegations

A freedom of speech row has erupted at Durham University as one of its oldest society’s was banned from taking part in freshers’ fair.

The freshers fair, which is organised by the university’s student union, sees hundreds of new students flock to stalls set up by various societies on campus. 

However, this year the university’s 182-year-old debating society, whose previous guest include ex-prime ministers Boris Johnson and Theresa May, as well as the late Dame Maggie Smith. was blocked from taking part amid racism allegations.   

Durham Student Union claimed Durham Union Society had fallen short in proving it had bettered its standards following accusations of racism, the Telegraph reports. 

It also said that the debating society, which is a registered charity, was independent from the university and had no formal commitment to the institution. 

Durham Union Society has been barred by the student union from taking part in the fresher’s fair after failing to show improvements following racism allegations

Leader of the Free Speech Union, Toby Young (Pictured)has slammed Durham’s Student Union for the decision and has sent a letter to the university’s vice chancellor

A free speech group has slammed the student body, accusing it of ‘censorious behaviour’.

In a letter to Durham University’s vice-chancellor, Professor Karen O’Brien, the Free Speech Union alleged Durham Union Society had been barred from the event because ‘it isn’t Left-wing enough.’ 

In a letter seen by MailOnline, the founder of the group, Toby Young claimed the university had a responsibility to protect free speech for all students, staff and visiting guests.

‘As things stand, it is now incumbent on the university to ensure that the situation is rectified,’ he wrote in a letter seen by the publication. 

Mr Young implied that the dispute would have not occurred if the Government hadn’t paused their introduction of new free speech legislature to combat cancel culture on campus,

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced she would halt the implementation of said law – the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) – in July.

The new law would have obligated universities to actively encourage free speech on campus and established a new complaints process for individuals affected by no-platforming. 

Mr Young told MailOnline: ‘Durham Students’ Union claims this isn’t a free speech issue because it hasn’t banned the debating society because of its officers views or the views expressed by invited speakers. But that’s misleading.

‘It has banned the debating society because, in the eyes of the Students’ Union, it hasn’t adopted sufficiently robust Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policies. But such policies are not apolitical, particularly not the extreme ones the Students’ Union wanted the debating society to adopt.

‘On the contrary, they’re rooted in a far-left political ideology. In effect, the Students’ Union’s refusal to allow the debating society a platform is because it has refused to embrace its woke agenda.

‘That makes it a free speech issue and, as such, it wouldn’t have been possible for the Students’ Union to no-platform the debating society if the Government hadn’t torpedoed the Freedom of Speech Act, which is designed to tackle cancel culture at universities.’

In February 2023, Samantha Smith, 20, said she was called the N-word at a late-night gathering of the Durham Union, the university’s oldest and largest society 

At the time Miss Smith, a Conservative commentator with white and Afro-Hispanic heritage, insists the punishment is inadequate

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (pictured) said halted the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act which would have obligated universities to actively encourage free speech on campus

The Department for Education declined to comment.

It comes after the Durham Union Society, which was founded in 1842 similarly to the Cambridge and Oxford Unions, was accused of racism. 

In February, 2023, law scholar Samantha Smith, 20, claimed she had been call the N-word during a late night gathering of the Durham Union. 

She formally complained about the incident and a university probe upheld her complaint. 

The other student, who the Mail is not naming, was banned from contacting her, told to write an apology and asked to do 100 hours of community service. 

But Miss Smith, a Conservative commentator with white and Afro-Hispanic heritage, insists the punishment is inadequate. 

She said in February 2023 that her alleged abuser showed no remorse and should have been banned from campus. 

He strongly denied uttering the slur but the probe found otherwise, on the balance of the evidence.

Miss Smith, from Shropshire, said: ‘I put faith in the process, and I put faith in the university but I feel let down, degraded, pushed aside and angry.

‘I fear that if this has happened in as clear cut a case as mine and this is how they dealt with it, what is it going to be like for other students?

Durham Union Society and Durham Student’s Union had entered into an agreement were future partnership was based on improvements in equality, diversity and inclusion in the society

Pictured an aerial view of the city of Durham

‘I also fear that he is going to be around me for the next two years and I could run into him any day.

‘Durham is a very small place. He is a very intimidating guy, and he scares me.’

Since the alleged incident, Durham Union Society and Durham Student’s Union had entered into an agreement. 

This understanding meant a future partnership between the two would be subject to the debating society improving in regards to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Durham University said in a statement: ‘Durham University has, on numerous occasions, urged Durham Students’ Union to reach an understanding with the Durham Union Society. It has done so in the interests of our new students being able to find out about the opportunities open to them.

‘As a University, while respecting the independence of Durham Students’ Union to manage the Freshers’ Fair, we will support the Durham Union Society in informing incoming students about their offer.

‘We have already told Durham Union Society we will work with them to make an available a space to promote the Society to new students, and this offer has been acknowledged and welcomed by the Society.

‘This is on the understanding that Durham Union Society is, as we believe it is, working to deliver the diverse and inclusive community we aspire to right across the University. This is of high importance.

‘The University urges Durham Students’ Union and the Durham Union Society to settle their differences, in the interests of our students being able to find out about the opportunities open to them.’

MailOnline has approached Durham Student Union and Durham Union Society for comment.