The National Union of Students was amongst several organisations to respond to the Government’s second publication of guidance to universities on how to prevent the promotion of violent extremism on campus last month.

Commenting on the guidelines, NUS President Gemma Tumelty told Islamic Times:

“Whilst we welcome the new focus on campus cohesion and the overall objectives of the guidelines, the document adds little of practical benefi t to students or universities. The guidelines could have done more to detail the steps that universities can take to promote safety, eradicate bullying and protect vulnerable students.”

Commenting on the Government’s recommendation that certain groups should not be prevented from speaking at universities, Gemma Tumelty said:

“Whilst we agree with the Government that we should work to keep our university campuses safe, the guidance on freedom of speech is unhelpful and contradictory. The guidance argues that holding extreme views is “acceptable, provided these views do not pass the line of illegality” and that universities should encourage that they be debated, before admitting that extreme groups are likely “to be careful to keep their messages within acceptable limits” in campus settings.

“Given that there are groups in the community whose actions on campus are unlikely to be directly “violently extremist,” but whose views and their espousal amounts to bullying and intimidation, both students and staff and vice-chancellors are likely to be left baffl ed as to what to report and who to protect”

When questioned about the suggestion that academic staff should monitor student activity, Gemma Tumelty said:

“Lecturers and students both have an interest in combatting terrorism but we have concerns that encouraging lecturers to monitor groups of students could polarise their relationship. This would prove counterproductive to the dialogue and informationsharing that is essential to any sustainable counterterror initiative.”

NUS Black Students offi cer Ruqayyah Collector also added her criticism to the focus of the guidance:

“Far from promoting tolerance and integration, the guidelines focus disproportionately on Islamic groups at the expense of other extreme views. This risks encouraging universities to treat Muslims with suspicion, creating a climate of fear around one particular group of students.”