
A Western professor in Japan has set up a “free speech” zone, and written into his course intro that “free speech” will be maintained, that all students can voice their opinions and views without being called “racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic etc or violating a safe space”.
This is after Dr Jordan Peterson, the canadian academic, had his planned two month fellowship at Cambridge University cancelled. Having controversial thoughts about not using preferred pronouns with transgender people and a dislike for political correctness, he is seem as a problematic figure, one that Cambridge University didn’t want to have around.
I’m not going to beat about the bush – I think that universities (and places of education in general) should not block, cancel or refuse controversial voices. I think it’s a real shame that time and time again right wing and controversial people are prevented from speaking at places that were set up to expand people’s knowledge.