UCL revealed on December 16th that UCL became the first university to formally cut ties to the LGBQ +charity stonewall. the university announced that it would end its involvement with the Stonewall workplace equality index. EDI Committee and its tutorial board voted to re-join with Stonewall.
UCL stated – ‘’Following a period of debate within our community and careful consideration of the issues, UCL has now taken the decision that we will not rejoin stonewall diversity champions program or make a submission to the workplace equality index.’’
According to the spokesperson, in Feb 2020, UCL took a decision not to renew its membership in the Diversity Champion Programme. He stated that their work did not impact the organization’s power to upload free speech. Instead, it builds a friendly working environment, which should not be considered a controversial act in 2021.
UCL, with the largest campus throughout all the universities in the UK, was placed at 98th position out of the 400 entries placed in Stonewall’s workplace equality index in 2018. It was the first university to be a part of the stonewall world range champions program. However, last year, it became the first University that broke its tie-up with Stonewall.
UCL was criticized for overlooking LGBTQ+ Staff and students in breaking stonewall tie-ups over academic freedom. The relation between UCL and stonewall is a disputed matter, however, Issues of this discussion have been conducted in a constructive manner. The senior management of UCL plans to establish an LGBTQ+ equality group to all forms of inequality.
The withdrawal was confirmed by the university management committee with support from the academic board, who justify the decision by saying that formal institutional commitments to stonewall may have the effect of inhibiting academic work and discussion with the university about sex and gender identity. Many Students and staffs are not in favour of this decision.
Students and the staff of campus, senior committees of UCL voted again in December 2021 to decide whether the university re-joins the programs where the result came overwhelmingly in opposition.
Most of the views were reflected in the academics board final paper. It claimed that Stonewall shifted its focus from ”advancing gay rights to promoting gender self – identification‘’ since 2014.
Refrences
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/dec/ucl-and-stonewall-diversity-champions-programme-and-workplace-equality-index
https://www.dailyadvent.com/gb/news/amp/f5212fe32efc10cacbc04e5e5f472ff8-UCL-slammed-for-ignoring-LGBT-staff-and-students-in-cutting-Stonewall-ties-over-academic-freedom
https://www.dailyadvent.com/gb/news/amp/f5212fe32efc10cacbc04e5e5f472ff8-UCL-slammed-for-ignoring-LGBT-staff-and-students-in-cutting-Stonewall-ties-over-academic-freedom
