(1) Approval of the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor
For full text of proposal see Gazette No 5350, 26 May 2022, p400.
(2) Voting on a Resolution authorising allocation of space on the Old Road Campus to the Medical Sciences Division
For full text of resolution see Gazette No 5349, 19 May 2022, p381.
(3) Voting on Legislative Proposal: Statute VII: Divisions, Faculties, Sub-faculties, Departments, and the Department for Continuing Education
For full text of legislative proposal see Gazette No 5349, 19 May 2022, p382.
(4) Voting on Legislative Proposal: Statute X and Congregation Regulations 3 of 2002
For full text of legislative proposal see Gazette No 5349, 19 May 2022, p383.
(5) Question under Part 5 of Congregation Regulations 2 of 2002
Council has received a question under Part 5 of Congregation Regulations 2 of 2002. For full text of the question and Council’s reply see the Supplement to Gazette No 5352, published 9 June 2022.
Congregation meeting
A meeting was held at 2pm on Tuesday 14 June, in the Sheldonian Theatre. Arrangements for the meeting were published in the Gazette No 5352, 9 June 2022, p424.
Order of proceedings
The Chair first declared carried the proposal at (1) above, the resolution at (2) above and the legislative proposals at (3) and (4) above.
Under the provisions of Part 5 of Congregation Regulations 2 of 2002, the reply to the question at (5) above was read; no debate was permitted upon the reply, but at the Chair's discretion seven supplementary questions were asked to elucidate the reply given.
Supplementary Questions
The following supplementary questions were asked at the meeting:
Supplementary Question 1 – Dr Michael Biggs, St Cross College
The Reply distinguishes (begin quote) ‘between the freedom to explore and express ideas and the manner in which such ideas are expressed’ (end quote). In Council’s opinion, what is the basis in law for this distinction specifically in relation to cases where the manner of expression does not, in law, constitute harassment?
Supplementary Question 2 – Dr Roger Teichmann, St Hilda’s College
The Reply states (begin quote) ‘In formulating its statutes, policies and procedures, the University must also take into account other factors, such as its duties to staff and students’ (end quote). What specifically are the duties relied on in this ‘formulation’?
Supplementary Question 3 – Dr Michael Biggs, St Cross College
The Reply states (begin quote) ‘the University is confident that its Policy and Procedure on Harassment and its Social Media guidance reflect and comply with its legal obligations’ (end quote). In Council’s opinion, how is a prohibition on speech that, in the words of the Harassment Policy, ‘has the effect of creating an offensive environment’ consistent with the University’s legal obligation to secure freedom of speech within the law?
Supplementary Question 4 – Dr Roger Teichmann, St Hilda’s College
The Reply states that (begin quote) ‘the University is confident that its Policy and Procedure on Harassment and its Social Media guidance reflect and comply with its legal obligations’ (end quote). Council does not explain in its Reply how that can be the case in the light of the specific queries about lawfulness raised in the text which is published as having been ‘appended to the Question’. Will it now do so in a further detailed reply?
Supplementary Question 5 – Dr Michael Biggs, St Cross College
The Reply states (begin quote) ‘In formulating its statutes, policies and procedures, the University must also take into account other factors, such as … its public sector equality duties’ (end quote). In Council’s view, exactly what obligations are imposed by the public sector equality duty in relation to academic freedom and free speech at the University?
Supplementary Question 6 – Dr Roger Teichmann, St Hilda’s College
The Reply states (begin quote) ‘In formulating its statutes, policies and procedures, the University must also take into account other factors, such as … other obligations under the Convention’ (end quote). In Council’s view, what specifically are those ‘other obligations’ under the European Convention on Human Rights?
Supplementary Question 7 – Dr Roger Teichmann, St Hilda’s College
The Reply does not mention the Statement of Freedoms in Statute XII (4), although this has been approved by Congregation. Where in the University’s hierarchy of internal legislation do the Policy and Procedure on Harassment, the Social Media Guidance and the Statement on Freedom of Speech stand and on what authority are they relied on in the Reply?
These supplementary questions will be received by Council and Council’s reply will be published in a future edition of the Gazette.
