Dave Hunter suggests requiring the event to be online and inviting Hope Not Hate to speak on another occasion
The question of whether Oriel College, Oxford, should host Nathan Cofnas highlights the double bind for educational institutions created by the freedom of speech legislation from 2023: bad law, designed to fix a non-problem relating to “no platforming” (Oriel College urged to cancel student group’s event with Jason Arday accuser, 27 October).
However, such institutions have options. Oriel could require the event to be online, and solely for the members of the relevant society. This could help to mitigate security risks and the impact on students outside that society.
Oriel might also invite an organisation such as Hope Not Hate to speak at the college on another occasion, to offer a more positive, less provocative, perspective. Dave Hunter Bristol
