The BBC’s science presenter, Prof Brian Cox, has blasted the “growing intolerance” of speaking bans and safe spaces at universities – calling them “nonsensical.”
In an interview with Radio Times, Cox warned about unintended consequences of safe spaces and absence of controversy that increases intolerance to certain views.
The professor at university of Manchester and BBC presenter suggested that students should be challenged, not limited to the intellectual echo-chamber of these safe spaces:
And for those posturing buffoons brimming with certainty on my sorry timeline, my views on that are outlined here https://t.co/wwnjcOMykL
— Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox) June 28, 2016
“I suppose they’re trying to build a less aggressive space, which I understand – modern discourse is polarised.
“But university is supposed to be a place where civilised debate takes place. If not in the university, then where do you debate the most difficult questions? So, I disagree very profoundly with the idea that there’s such a thing as a safe space intellectually at a university. It’s nonsensical to me.”
He then added: “The point of university is to build an intellectual armoury. You should expect that you’re not going be abused by a shouting loudmouth – you wouldn’t want modern political discourse to be brought off Twitter and into the student union. I understand why they don’t want that and they’re right not to want that.”
Cox’s remarks come at a time when most NUS-affiliated universities’ student unions adopt no-platforming policies that lead to disinvitations and outright bans of speakers and ideas that are not up-to-date with social justice trends.
