Debate

 

The Debate Society's Free Speech Policy

The following text is to outline the Debate Society's legal and ethical guidelines on free speech. This policy is in line with the Union of Students' and the University of Derby's Free Speech Policy, the EHRC Free Speech guidance on higher education providers and English Law.

Article I: The Law & Policy

  1. The Debate Society is bound by the Free Speech policy of the Union of Students and the University of Derby.
  2. Several laws of the United Kingdom bind the society, either directly or by proxy of our parent organisations, including the Human Rights Act, relevant Education Acts as well as safeguarding laws.
  3. The Debate Society must ensure that adequate and sufficient steps are taken to safeguard members that are at risk of being drawn into terrorism or extreme ideology or to prevent harming other members of the public.

Article II: The 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, individuals should follow the University of Derby's External Speakers Policy.
  3. This policy does extend to all activities or events 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 individuals break the law in a criminal matter, then the Debate Society will ensure full cooperation with the relevant investigating authorities. 

Article III: Blacklisted Topics 

  1. Certain topics may be blocked permanently if they fulfil any of the following criteria:
    1. The topic being debated would cause an incredible risk of harm to individuals and this risk could not be reduced despite putting reasonable protections in place.
      1. Incredible risk of harm refers to severe psychiatric or physical harm
    2. The topic being debated has the likelihood to promote banned organisations, extreme ideology or conspiracy theories that destroy communities
      1. The conspiracy theory clause refers to conspiracies that have no backing by science whatsoever, and by debating them, would cause damage to a community of some sort (e.g. the Holocaust)
  2. Blacklisted topics must be specific and cannot be applied to a broad range of topics.
  3. Any speech that also fulfills one of the criteria as set out above 
  4. The Debate Society may

Article III: Safe Space Designation

  1. The Debate Society may not be designated as a "safe space" by any Act of Session or the Union of Students
    1. Such a designation would require the limiting of a member's speech which, in certain circumstances, may breach the law on free speech.