Debate

 

The Debate Society's External Speaker Policy

The following text is in line with the Constitution of the Debate Society and the External Speaker policies of the University of Derby and Union of Students. This policy is also in line with the proposed Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill 2021. 

Article I - The Law and Policy

  1. The Debate Society is bound to the External Speaker Policy of the University of Derby and the Union of Students and must follow the rules set out in them.
  2. The Human Rights Act, and relevant Education Acts, binds the Debate Society, by proxy of the University, to uphold members' free speech and external visitors to the society.
  3. The Debate Society must ensure that adequate safeguards are put in place to ensure that members are not at risk of being drawn into terrorism or extreme ideology.
  4. No student, staff member or member of the public should have their right of privacy and daily life impacted. So the Debate Society must take appropriate steps to ensure that external visitors do not interfere with those rights. 

Article II - Scope of this Policy

  1. This policy extends to only affairs managed, coordinated or led by the Debate Society.
  2. This policy does not cover affairs outside the society but within the University. Instead, external speakers should follow the University of Derby's External Speakers Policy.
  3. This policy does extend to any online or virtual event that the Debate Society manages, coordinates or leads.
  4. This policy does also include non-member students of the University of Derby.
  5. Where the actions of external speakers break the law in a criminal matter, then the Debate Society will ensure full cooperation with the relevant investigating authorities. 

Article III - Authorisation Steps

  1. External Speakers may only be invited by the President Speaker of the Debate Society. However, they may instruct the Vice President, Speaker and Secretary to undertake the invitation process.
  2. External Speakers only need the approval of the President Speaker of the Debate Society; this is to prevent other committee members from blocking the invitation of an external speaker, which could lead to bias and infringement of free speech policy and law. 
  3. Before initiating any conversation with the proposed external speaker, the President Speaker must complete a full evaluation of the risks posed by their presence at the University and Debate Society. The evaluation should consider, among others: Reputational Damage, Compliance & Regulation, Financial Sustainability and People and Culture.
  4. If the evaluation is approved, the President Speaker should start a formal conversation with the proposed speaker about the event, including when, where, how and what. However, the President Speaker will not make an official invitation until all relevant parties have approved.
    1. Relevant parties including the University of Derby, the Union of Students and the Committee of the Debate Society
  5. The President Speaker must hold an Arrangements Meeting with all relevant parties to discuss the programme of the day if the visiting speaker is of a particularly high reputation.
  6. Where an external visitor is from a field that another University of Derby student society represents, then the President Speaker should inform that society and invite them to have a minor role in organising the event.

Article III - Code of Conduct

  1. The President Speaker will supply each external speaker event with an individual code of conduct policy.
  2. To ensure that peace and order is maintained in events, the President Speaker may order;
    1. Observations from independent organisations/individuals
    2. Observations from the Union of Students or the University of Derby
    3. Security to secure the event
    4. Require any speech to be delivered to the President Speaker 14 days in advance.
  3. The Union of Students and the University of Derby may also impose the above restrictions on you, as well as others.
  4. Any external speaker and third party working with us are required to ensure they abide by the Debate Society's Brand Toolkit.

Article IV - Complaints and Appeals

  1. External speakers who wish to raise a formal concern or complaint about the Debate Society's actions must go through the Complaint Process of the Debate Society.
  2. Where the Debate Society is blocked from hosting an external speaker, the President Speaker may undertake a formal appeal through the Union of Students and the University of Derby.
    1. This appeal will only be undertaken under the discretion of the President Speaker where they believe the Union of Students or University neglected to consider all factors or they are infringing policy and law.
  3. If an invited speaker decides to apply for judicial review over a rejected invite, the Debate Society will only cooperate at the request of the court.

Article V - No Platforming Policy

  1. The Debate Society will not revoke any formal invitation, or cancel an event unless for the following reasons;
    1. Where an act of god event occurs which prevents us from carrying out the event safely
    2. Where the President Speaker and the Vice President Speaker have been incapacited 
    3. Where the external speaker has been found to have withheld information from us in the registration form, including information that may impact the risk assessment for the event
    4. Where an imminent or serious threat to the security and safety of either the speaker or visitors occurs and cannot be safely mitigated
  2. Where an invitation or event is revoked, the President Speaker may;
    1. Offer a new invitiation for another date and time
    2. Revoke the invitiation and refuse to hold the event again
    3. Place a ban on inviting a particular external speaker where they have omitted to declare information that endangered the security and safety of staff and students
  3. The Debate Society will endevour to ensure every external speaker event is carried out even when the event comes under heavy scrutiny. The Society will not tolerate any pressure from third parties to cancel an event. 

Article VI - The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill

This Article is based on a parliamentary bill, introduced by the Department of Education, that has yet to recieve Royal Assent. Therefore, whilst this Article is in force, some of its provisions may be invalid until Royal Assent is given. Additionally, this clause may not be fully compatiable with the bill as yet.

  1. The Debate Society is committed to ensuring that all relevant freedom of speech laws of English and UK law is upheld.
  2. When considering any external speakers, the Debate Society will use the Freedom of Expression for Higher Education guide, published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
  3. The President Speaker will cooperate fully with any complaint investigation or communication undertaken by the Office of Students or the Charity Commission.

 

This policy was written by Ben Marler (Vice Presdient Speaker), under the authority of the Debate Society's Constitution, Amendment VIII - Article II Section 1.03.b and Section 1.04.d

The Debate Society enacted this policy on 1st September 2021

Updates:

14/09/21 - Added provision on cross-society speaker events