Vice-Chancellor: Taking action and speaking up with respect

In recent days, I have been in contact with students in the UoR Friends of Palestine society, some of whom have been protesting in the square outside the Palmer building on our Whiteknights campus.

I met with a group of the students on Tuesday. We had a constructive and interesting discussion, in which they highlighted a number of concerns about the experience of Palestinian students in the UK, and at Reading specifically. I was impressed with their thoughtfulness, their intelligence, and the respectful tone of our conversation, and promised to respond within the week.

They have published their concerns, and the actions they would like the University to take. This includes: the University taking a position on war crimes – particularly around the international law protecting the environment; divesting from companies involved in supporting Israel’s military; providing more assistance to Palestinian students fleeing conflict; and safeguarding freedom of speech on campus to allow students and staff to speak up without fear of repercussions. I will address each of these matters in turn.

Action, not just words

The University’s mission is to promote learning, aid understanding, and to discover the truth about the world. This is the case in learning about the natural world through science, as well as uncovering the ever-evolving character of human society. The University itself provides the facilities and the space in which this discovery can take place, and ideas can be debated and contested. My job, and the role of the University, is to make these facilities work for everyone.

By providing an environment for academics and students to do their research and study, we allow them to speak to all sides, to freely inquire, to respectfully disagree with each other, and contest different perspectives, and engage with all relevant groups. This is the best way for the University to support inquiry and dialogue, and the tolerance that an open society requires.

In recent days, I have heard about the work of academics and students in Law, and Politics and International Relations, who have used their platform as independent experts to work towards the post-war reconstruction of Gaza, to hold alleged war criminals to account, and to help highlight and eliminate prejudice and racism. This work would be more difficult, or even impossible, if our University was to be seen to take an institutional position on international events. The actions of individual in our community, including the world-class experts among our staff, students and alumni, will have a far greater impact than in statements from the University. 

The University can and does also use its independent position to highlight this work. I would like us to redouble efforts to highlighting the voices of all those in our community who are using their academic skills and expertise to understand the causes of this terrible conflict, or other actions to support peace. If colleagues or students have examples of these to share, please tell me: vc@reading.ac.uk

I am also very interested and grateful for ideas raised with me around understanding the environmental impacts of war. Of course, the immediate safety and care of people must be the priority, but as our long-term security requires us all to look after for the natural world, care for the environment should not be forgotten in times of conflict. I have asked colleagues to consider how the University, as a leading centre for the study of the environment and justice, might be able to support this perspective in future. 

Investing with purpose

I wholeheartedly agree with the idea that the use of our assets should align with our broader University principles. I am confident that the University, after many years of strong leadership and careful thought on ethical investment, has an investment policy that matches our values.

This originally came from discussions around divestment from companies involved in fossil fuel extraction in 2016, but which led to an approach in which we adopted a new, broader view on directing our investments in an ethical way. We undertook a rigorous selection for a new investment manager, selecting a partner with an investment approach that allowed us to secure our financial future while also taking a positive approach to investments. Our investment policy, and a detailed report of our annual shareholdings going back more than a decade, are published on our website. I would urge anyone who is interested to scrutinise them.

I have in recent days confirmed with colleagues in Finance that our policy specifically excludes investments in weapons and arms companies. We require our investment manager to screen out all corporations that are complicit in the violation of international law. This includes – but is not restricted to – those companies listed by the United Nations as involved in activities in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Within the last year, we conducted a review of our Treasury policy and banking providers, with a strong additional focus on the ethical and sustainability approaches of different banks. As a result of this tender process, we have switched our bank accounts to the provider we felt showed a high level of ethical consideration in its approach.

Providing sanctuary

The University has in recent years become a University of Sanctuary, reflecting an institution-wide approach to supporting refugees and others escaping persecution and conflict.

I am proud of the work of our students and colleagues in this area, many of whom volunteer significant amounts of their time and expertise to support sanctuary seekers in Reading, and around the world. 

In recent years, we have put more resources into scholarship schemes for refugees and seekers of sanctuary, with a specific scheme for Ukrainian refugees in 2022 that reflected the UK government establishment of settlement schemes for Ukrainian refugees. 

Following discussions with students, colleagues and others, I agree that we can do more. I would like the University to double its support for our asylum seeker scholarship scheme, and will work with relevant colleagues in the weeks ahead to make the arrangements to put this in place. 

I would also welcome the opportunity to work closely with existing student support groups to help offer this level of support to those who need it the most. I hope that the UoR Friends of Palestine society, and others, will engage with the University in helping to spread the word about these scholarships, so that those in a position to apply do not miss out on the opportunity.

As a University, we have a long history of supporting refugees and academics fleeing conflict; for example, Professor Edith Morley, whose name we honour on our largest campus building, was not only England’s first female professor, but an early advocate for refugees fleeing persecution in the 1930s. We have been associated with CARA, the Council for At Risk Academics, for decades. Sadly, its work is required today more than ever. I will establish a review of our relationship with CARA, to see how we as an institution, and as a community, can increase our support for its work.

Respectfully protecting free speech

The ability to think and speak freely and openly, and to study and discuss any relevant topic, is the lifeblood of University activity. As I have strongly advocated in recent months, the role of universities in our society is to enable the exploration, open discussion, and generation of ideas. 

The right to protest is a core component of freedom of speech, and is one of many legitimate ways to communicate ideas. The students I have met this week who have been protesting have, in my experience, conducted themselves with integrity and respect.

This is not an absolute right, of course. We must all be mindful of our duties within the law, and our moral and practical responsibilities not to cause harassment or distress to others through our actions. I was dismayed to learn that a passer-by had shouted abuse at protestors, and another had made threats. In both cases, the University Security colleagues supported the students and liaised with the police to help keep everyone safe.

I was similarly dismayed to learn that some slogans used on placards at the protest could reasonably be seen to cause distress to Jewish colleagues. Nobody has the right to not be offended, but we do all have the right to work and study in a place without intimidation or harassment because of our race or religion. While this may not have been the intention of the protestors, it is possible to make a point without using slogans or words that could cause harassment and distress, and I would remind everybody of our collective responsibilities to take action to prevent this.

These incidents aside, I have seen much that our University community can be proud of this week – including but not just on the grass outside Palmer – through the demonstration of consideration and kindness for others, care and hospitality, and the application of intelligent thought, tolerance and principle. 

I look forward to continuing to engage with University students and colleagues in the weeks ahead. 

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor