Mick Hartley

A couple of weeks back we heard about the fuss over Kathleen Stock's visit to the Oxford Union, when the university's LGBTQ+ Society let it be known that they were "dismayed and appalled" that a woman who believes that sex is real should be allowed to speak there. Here's the latest:

The Oxford Union will provide “welfare resources” to help students cope with a talk by Professor Kathleen Stock this month.

The academic, who quit her job at Sussex University after accusations of transphobia over her gender-critical views, is due to speak at the union at the end of this month, but some groups are campaigning for the invitation to be rescinded or have pledged to protest outside the event….

The Oxford Union has announced that it will provide “welfare resources” when the philosophy professor speaks, due to “the sensitive nature of the themes discussed at this event”.

The university’s LGBTQ+ society has released a statement condemning the union for the invitation, accusing Stock of being a “transphobic and trans-exclusionary speaker” and the union of ignoring the welfare of the society’s members under the guise of free speech.

Stock said on social media that the society’s statement contained several falsehoods and was “probably defamatory” as well as making it look “utterly ridiculous”.

Several college common rooms, which represent students, have also passed motions against the union, including at Christ Church and Mansfield College.

On the day of the speaker event, the union has committed to providing extra welfare resources including a non-student support team that will remain in a separate welfare space to offer counselling and advice in addition to the student welfare officers. Students will also be allowed to ask questions anonymously, via a link.

Will the St John's Ambulance Brigade be on hand, to cope with all the fainting? Will smelling salts be provided? Those poor students, having to deal with views with which they disagree….