Free speech and sensitive events

We do this alongside the need to balance the rights of all members of our community to a fair, welcoming and inclusive environment, as well as the need to ensure the safety of staff, students and visitors.

Discussion and debate

As you would expect in a university - a place of enquiry and free expression - events sometimes involve speakers or subjects which are controversial and/or sensitive.

It is a legal requirement that the University allows these events to take place, but sometimes we may need to set conditions before they proceed.

The starting point is that freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law should flourish on campus - and it is a high bar for such speech to be unlawful.

Support for event organisers

The Events team can work with you to identify and address risks to make sure measures are in place to support respectful debate.

You should only advertise an event and open ticket bookings once these processes have been completed.

Procedures

To help you organise your event, we have simple procedures you can follow, which apply to all potentially sensitive events - whether on or off campus, online, or private events hosted on University premises.

Specific requirements vary depending on the nature of the event, and who is organising it. 

• Full procedures for designating and supporting Potentially Sensitive Events

Guidance for staff

At least three weeks before a planned event, consider these four key questions:

• Is the topic potentially controversial? Could it be challenging or a cause for concern for particular groups on campus or in the wider community?
• Could the event have implications for other areas of University activity?
• If there is a visiting speaker, are they associated with a potentially controversial group or ideas?
• Could the visiting speaker’s views - whether or not they are directly related to the topic of the proposed event - be challenging or a cause for concern to particular groups on campus or in the wider community? 

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, contact governance@york.ac.uk for initial advice, support and the next steps you may need to take. Please give us a description of the event and the potential issues.

If the event is identified as potentially sensitive, you’ll need to:

• confirm a Sponsor for the event (usually the HoD/Professional Service Director or equivalent)
• together with the Sponsor, work with the Potentially Sensitive Events Group, which includes colleagues from Campus Safety, Communications, EDI and Governance and Assurance, chaired by the Academic Registrar, to identify and address any risks, and ensure that measures are in place to support respectful debate.

Guidance for students

York SU arrange the approval of student-led events, including student-led college events, and offer support for event organisers: 

• Resources and guidance for student events

If you are organising a visiting speaker or formal discussion event independently from York SU - for example, something specific to your academic department - you will need to ask a member of University staff to act as the event Sponsor and enter their details on the event management form under 'Responsible Person'. This will usually be your Head of Department/School: you can refer them to the information above (Guidance for staff) for details of the procedure.