University Briefings (Feb 25): Gender Critical author, Helen Joyce, prompts Oxford student Valentines Day protest

Gender-critical author, Helen Joyce, spoke at Balliol College on Valentines day in Oxford, prompting a student protest and walk out. Joyce spoke at an event organised by convener of the Balliol Philosophy Society, John Maier.

Joyce’s talk, entitled “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex (and Gender) but were afraid to ask” discussed transgender rights activism and her latest book “Trans: When Ideology Makes Reality”. Joyce was reported to claim that “transition is objectively bad”. Activists were reported to be handing out leaflets containing quotes from Joyce at the event. Joyce was reported to dismiss a question from a student that asked whether trans men get harassed as men, saying “I know you haven’t taken testosterone”. “While this talk took place at Balliol, it in no way reflects the views of the JCR Committee, who believe that all members should be valued regardless of their gender identity,” said Balliol JCR President, Callum Turnbull.

Joyce was invited despite more than 600 people signing a petition protesting transphobia at Oxford University, mirroring events when she previously spoke in Cambridge in October 2022 at Gonville & Caius College in a talk entitled “Criticising gender-identity ideology: what happens when speech is silenced” which was boycotted by Cambridge academics and protested by trans students and a wider student community.

A private letter from three former editors in chief of an Oxford University student publication, The Oxford Student, to their Student Union has been been leaked, with allegations of “overbearing censorship”.

The story published by rival Oxford publication, Cherwell, suggests that while While The Oxford Student website claims that their constitution “grants [them] full editorial independence from the SU,” an agreement struck in Trinity Term 2024 between The Oxford Student and the Oxford SU impose a limit on pubishing content that may bring the SU into disrepute. Cherwell itself is owned by Oxford Student Publications Limited (OSPL), a student-run company set up to ensure the editorial independence of Cherwell from the University and the SU.

“Whilst we are not at liberty to disclose confidential discussions amongst the SU Board with third parties, it is widely known at the University that the SU Board is working to find solutions to protect the future of OxStu and its editorial independence, in response to feedback from employees and students of both the SU and OxStu,” said a statement published by the Oxford University SU.

Oriel College has launched an exhibition that aims to contextualise the legacy of Cecil Rhodes

Cecil Rhodes, founder of the eponymous Rhodes Scholarship that continues to fund several international postgraduate students at the University of Oxford, played an important role in the British colonisation of Africa. Several protests since 2015 have demanded the removal of his statue in Oriel College have occurred since 2015, when the #RhodesMustFall movement began, with further demonstrations taking place following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. A commission set up by the College ultimately recommended removing the statue, but Oriel decided not to, citing “regulatory and financial challenges” at the time.

Oxford University will now allow eligible new fathers, and partners of new mothers, to take up to 12 weeks of fully paid leave, inclusive of the statutory two-week period.
A similar policy introduced by the University of Cambridge on 1st October 2024. Cambridge’s update was part of a broader set of reforms aimed at improving family leave provisions.   Employers who have recently had or adopted children and are still within the first year after birth or placement will be able to access the scheme proportionately.

In other news, Lord William Hague was formally admitted as Oxford University’s 160th Chancellor last week in a traditional ceremony held in the Sheldonian Theatre.