Sussex Digital Media Creators

[A slide reads “The Sussex Education Awards” over a multi-coloured spotlight graphic.]

[Celebratory orchestral music plays throughout.]

[Footage of the Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts (ACCA) foyer featuring Education Awards signage with a text overlay reading “Sussex Education Awards 2024” in black text.]

[Montage from inside the empty theatre:]

[The stage Education Awards signage from the back of the auditorium.]

[Theatre seats from the side.]

[The view of seats from the stage.]

[A close-up panning shot of the rectangular glass awards featuring the spotlight graphic on a blue table.]

[Montage of preparations for the show to begin:]

[People arriving into the foyer.]

[People finding seats in the theatre.]

[A close-up of an Instagram post announcing the awards.]

[Montage from the Awards ceremony:]

[From the audience, Michel Luck behind a lectern stage left, whilst a signer stands stage right. A text overlay reads “And so it begins!”]

[Closer shot of the signer.]

[An awardee, Dyuti Ailawadi, walks across the stage to receive her award from Kate O’Riordan.]

[Close-up of an award in someone’s hand.]

[Several members of the Life Sciences Curriculum Development Team speak after receiving their award whilst a signer signs next to them.]

[A close-up of audience members clapping.]

[A wide shot of the audience clapping whilst another team poses for a photograph after receiving their award.]

[A closer shot of another team accepting their award, including one member being streamed in on a laptop, whilst a signer signs.]

[An awardee makes her way out of the audience.]

[A shot of the audience applauding.]

[A video playing on a projector screen on stage featuring staff and students thanking staff.]

[A word cloud reading “Sussex staff, you genuinely are:” with words including “incredible, “motivating”, “caring”, “approachable”, etc.]

[A close-up of an audience member from over their shoulder, they are clapping and have an award on their lap.]

[Montage from after the ceremony:]

[Audience members talking in the foyer.]

[Close-up of sparkling wine being poured.]

[Three people laughing in front of a large portrait painting.]

[A team in purple hoodies pose on a staircase for a photo.]

[A shot of people in ACCA café through a window from outside.]

[A guest picks up a glass of sparkling wine.]

[A guest holds a canapé.]

[Audience members talking and laughing.]

[A staff member offers around a tray of canapés.]

[Two audience members deep in conversation.]

[Two people cheers their drinks.]

[More people in conversation.]

[A group gathers for a photo opportunity in front of a large Education Awards sign.]

[A winner holds her award.]

[A staff member raises her fist in celebration.]

[Two winners smiling, one holds his award up in the air.]

[An animated slide on the stage reads “Congratulations to all the 2024 Education Awards Nominees and Winners” with a spotlight graphic.]

[Spotlights across the top of the screen turn off from the centre outwards, fading to black.]

[Professor David Ruebain and student Digital Media Creator, Abby sitting either side of a table in an office on Sussex campus]

Abby: Hi everyone, my name is Abby, and I am one of the Digital Media Creators here at Sussex. And today I am here with...

David: Hello everyone. Hi Abby. My name is David Ruebain, I'm the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion here at the University of Sussex and I am also the University's Free Speech Officer.

Abby: So I'm here today to have a conversation with David exactly about freedom of speech. And so, let's start!

David: Thank you Abby.

Abby: So I have a few questions for you. And the first one is, can you tell us what the definition of freedom of speech is?

David: Well, thank you, and thanks for the opportunity for doing this. There are several definitions of free speech but the foundational one, the most important one, if you like is in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is now part of the Human Rights Act 1998, and that protects the right of freedom of expression.

And it covers political expression, including peaceful protests and demonstrations; artistic expression; commercial expression; and both popular and unpopular expressions, providing that they are within the law.

It protects the right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds and as I have indicated, by any means.

And I would also say that not only is it set out in the law but it's set out in the University's own instruments of government as a foundational aspect of who we are and what we do.

Abby: Thank you, that was a really comprehensive definition. And so I wanted to lead on from that. So when can freedom of speech legally be restricted?

David: There are a number of limitations on free speech, some of them relate to criminal law like prohibitions of hate speech or harassment or incitement to commit crimes or terrorism. Others are more about protecting the rights of other individuals, such as preventing harassment or defamation. So there are a number of areas where it may be limited.

But unless they are expressly set out in the law, then everyone has a right to freedom of speech.

Abby: Thank you for that. I think it's really useful to know when freedom of speech can legally be restricted as well, especially when it infringes on other people's rights. And so, on the flip side I wanted to know, when can't freedom of speech be legally restricted?

David: Well, pretty much in every other area, and most importantly, it is not lawful to restrict free speech even if it upsets other people - providing it's lawful speech.

It's not lawful to restrict free speech even if other people strongly disagree or if they feel that the opinions or viewpoints are wrong, or even oppressive, providing again, it's within the law - providing it doesn't cross the legal boundaries that I've mentioned.

Abby: Thank you, that was actually really useful to know, absolutely. And since we are at a university setting, I wanted to place this conversation into that setting and I wanted to ask, what does freedom of speech mean for students and staff at university?

David: It means that each of us, all of us, have a right to say what we want, and to express our views, providing it's within the law, and that includes political views, again, providing it's within the law and not only for staff and students, but also for visitors who come onto campus for whatever reason.

I think more importantly, even than that it's foundational for any university to ensure this range of diverse viewpoints is available.

Universities are at their best when they are engaging with a range of ideas and indeed creating new ideas and discoveries through scholarship, and teaching, and research, and learning.

And the exchange of lawful views is critical for that.

Abby: So, I think what you said was really interesting about how diverse viewpoints are really important in a university setting especially for students who are here to learn, and of course, academics as well.

And that leads on to our next point here which talks about academic freedom. So I wanted to ask you what is academic freedom, and how is this different from freedom of speech?

David: Yes, that's a great question.

Academic freedom is similar to freedom of speech, but is distinct in its own right and it relates to the rights of an academic to have flexibility and freedom in what they teach and how they teach their subject; what ideas they want to talk about in the subjects that they teach; how they discuss the issues that they talk about; how they research; how they publish.

To not be subject to institutional censorship and to not suffer professional detriment or disadvantage as a result of teaching ideas or thoughts within their subject specialism which might be unpopular, for example, or might be different from the commonplace view about that idea.

So, it really affords academics particular rights to be able to explore where their thinking and research goes.

Abby: Thank you. And I think that's obviously important in a university setting to ensure that knowledge can grow, and that students can learn more as well.

And that leads on to my next question - why is academic freedom important at university?

David: If you look at the development of ideas, even over the centuries, we have relied on, to a significant extent, people to be able to think, and research, and teach freely so as to enable us to understand differently, and often better, the way things are.

There was a time, not so long ago, where people believed that the Sun revolved around the Earth, for example, or even that the Earth was flat!

And it required people who understood or thought differently to be able to develop those ideas and explore them, and really that's the essence of university life.

So, academic freedom is important precisely so that we can continue to test our knowledge and develop it in the pursuit of truth and understanding.

Abby: I really like that bit of history you gave us there! It's really telling as well how challenging known knowledge is really important for us to keep on developing.

And that leads on to my final question. So, of course, challenging the viewpoints of others can be quite risky, I guess - how do we ensure that we aren't harming others with academic freedom?

David: Yes, I think it's always important to try and engage with each other with a degree of civility and thoughtfulness and even, if possible, to recognise how our words might land on other people.

Now, for some subjects, that may be more important than others, but everybody, whether they are staff, or students, or visitors will have a range of lived experiences they will bring and whilst it's critically important that we protect academic freedom and freedom of speech, and ensure that they are embedded in all of our work, it doesn't mean to say that we have to be harsh.

And indeed, in many ways, creating a culture of collegiality, of engagement, ideas, where we know and understand that it's important to allow each other to express different views and opinions is all part of ensuring success in a university.

Abby: Alright, thank you so much for those really great answers David! That's all the questions that I have for you today.

David: Thanks very much. Thank you.

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