WASH discuss free speech and censorship on campus

As Benjamin David took to the stage for his opening address, the audience weren’t expecting the personal revelation that followed. After reflecting on his time as president of WASH, he shared a personal account of his experience being raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, then being deprived of food by his family after leaving the religion aged 16, and being made homeless.

For him, WASH was a way of expressing his dissent by educating and supporting others. With this immensely emotional story, Benjamin ended a two-year presidency with a bittersweet hug from Phoebe Davies-Owen.

The panel discussion began as it meant to go on: confrontational and direct. Subjects raised ranged from no-platforming to Prevent, while Maryam, Benjamin and Professor Grayling directed the audience’s attention towards issues of identity politics and free speech.

Maryam drove the discussion towards her beliefs that increased censorship has been enabling separatist extremist communities, using examples such as gender segregation and the protection of the hijab, which she deems inherently oppressive.

Some views are inflammatory, some are well argued, and many are both

Professor AC Grayling was keen to emphasise the importance of liberty, particularly in higher education, and was critical of how universities have adopted a “condescending and paternalistic attitude” in order to censor their students.

Benjamin sat in the middle, both literally and figuratively. When asked how best to challenge toxic narratives, he answers: “The only way to do this is through open debate and to have the ‘bad narrative’ exposed under scrutiny.”

Some views are inflammatory, some are well argued, and many are both. While members of the audience said that there was too much mutual agreement between the panellists, the effect on the audience was as eye-opening as Benjamin, Phoebe, and everyone involved in the WASH exec hoped that it would be.