Women Speak Tasmania are calling on the University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor Duncan Maskell to publicly condemn today’s rally opposing academic freedom and targeting feminist academic and lecturer in political philosophy Holly Lawford Smith.
Spokesperson Isla MacGregor said
‘The VC must uphold the University of Melbourne’s policy on academic freedom which states:
‘A core value of the University of Melbourne is to preserve, defend and promote the traditional principles of academic freedom in the conduct of its affairs, so that all scholars at the University are free to engage in critical enquiry, scholarly endeavour and public discourse without fear or favour.’
‘The Queer Department has made unsubstantiated allegations against Holly Lawford Smith and are mounting a vigilante style action against her.’
‘At a time when opposition to male violence against women is gaining national media coverage, the VC must take a stand against this pernicious campaign and vilification of a highly regarded feminist academic’. said Isla MacGregor
-ENDS-