On Thursday an event took place defending @BristolUni Prof David Miller. Arguments were made that there is a principle of academic freedom involved. Speakers agreed that the Jewish students may have been right to be upset but that Miller shouldn't face censure for his comments. 
Perhaps the most striking depiction of the trap set for Jewish students is laid out by Tom Mills.
Jewish students can speak out...but if media and politicians take an interest that's something else entirely...he's concerned about "conservative political interests"
Watch in full
Jewish students can speak out...but if media and politicians take an interest that's something else entirely...he's concerned about "conservative political interests"
Watch in full
As seems par for the course Jewish orgs @BoardofDeputies @JLC_uk @CST_UK @antisemitism were attacked, this time by @jrschlosberg over unspecified issues of antisemitism in the Tory Party he didn't think they were dealing with.
The renowned scholar @TariqModood of @BristolUni defended Miller's scholarship while being gently critical of his use of language.
Modood is responding to a claim no one made. The claim is that it's now rather hard for Jewish students to attend Miller's classes.
Modood is responding to a claim no one made. The claim is that it's now rather hard for Jewish students to attend Miller's classes.
Modood is the only speaker to push back against the idea that "this is all part of the IHRA campaign".
To defend Miller is necessarily to buy into the idea that this is a campaign directed from above rather than a straightforward wave of revulsion against Miller's comments.
To defend Miller is necessarily to buy into the idea that this is a campaign directed from above rather than a straightforward wave of revulsion against Miller's comments.
Modood outlines the issues well but when he says "I think the students have taken what David said wrongly, he wasn't attacking them, he wasn't smearing them." he's contradicting Miller himself.
https://twitter.com/bensince96/status/1362432493593505796
One of the speakers was former @UKLabour councillor and career academic Harriet Bradley whose contribution to the meeting was effectively annulled by her assertion that she knows nothing about the details of the students or the case.
It should be noted that @jrschlosberg displayed sensitivity & nuance in dealing with Miller's comments in his talk. It is to his credit that he has done so.
There is no defence to be mounted of Miller for anyone who has read his full comments, he is clear and unambiguous.
There is no defence to be mounted of Miller for anyone who has read his full comments, he is clear and unambiguous.
Read more at our blog
hurryupharry.net/2021/03/06/whe…
hurryupharry.net/2021/03/06/whe…
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