A message to all University of Liverpool staff and students, from Professor Richard Black, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor:
Since Sunday 6 May, a group of people have been occupying Abercromby Square to protest about the conflict in Gaza. A number of other universities in the UK have similar encampments at the moment. Hopefully you have seen the University’s statement detailing how we are managing the situation and highlighting the support services we have available for all.
I don’t think anyone observing the media coverage of the ongoing violence, devastation, and loss of life as a result of the conflict in Israel and Gaza, can feel anything other than utter horror. From speaking to many of you over the past few weeks and months, it is clear to me that despite divided opinions – something to be expected in a diverse, global community – it is basic, human compassion for all those experiencing this unimaginable suffering, that unites us all.
I know from our conversations that some of you support the current protest on campus and some of you do not, and some of you have written to the Vice-Chancellor and other senior colleagues to enquire about the University’s approach to the encampment and to ask questions about the issues being raised. Responses to individual enquiries have been sent but I wanted to write to you all to try and summarise some of the key issues and to reiterate a few, important messages.
Free speech and protest on campus and the University’s approach to the encampment
Student protests on university campuses have played an important part in campaigns for human rights and social justice throughout history. We all have the right to express ourselves freely and hold our own opinions – even if our views are unpopular and even if they upset or offend others. Every member of our community has the right to engage in lawful and peaceful protest, but free speech comes with limitations and should always be exercised with mutual respect, tolerance and compassion for others.
I am pleased to say that so far, the encampment and our community’s response to it has been largely peaceful. But there have also been some concerning incidents which we are investigating further. Freedom of speech applies equally to everyone – it is unreasonable to expect free speech to be protected in one part of campus, or for one group of people, and then seek to deny the right of others to speak freely. We will never support or condone protest and activity that involves hate speech or harassment of individuals or groups. While we cannot discuss the details of individual cases, I want to remind everyone about the availability of our Report and Support tool which all staff and students can use to report behaviour which they think breaches the standards we set for our community.
I also want to take this opportunity to say thank you again to Campus Support colleagues, who have been working to ensure a safe environment around the protest and for all concerned, whilst also working hard to try and minimise the disruption for everyone in our community and those nearby. We are a city centre campus, and it is exam time – respect for others is non-negotiable.
University approach to ethical investment and research
We introduced an Ethical Investment Policy at the University in 2018, which is reviewed on an annual basis. This policy commits us to investing funds on a socially responsible basis with due regard to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and students are represented on our investment committees. The policy was last reviewed in November 2023 and you can read it in full here.
Similarly, we seek to maintain the highest standards of rigour and integrity in our research partnerships. Our policies in this area provide a framework to ensure that research is conducted in accordance with good research practice. All our partnerships are carefully assessed through due diligence procedures to ensure they align with our commitment to responsible research and again students are represented in these procedures. These policies are available here.
The University’s Careers and Employability Team provides our students and graduates with access to information, resources and opportunities that support them in their early career plans and goals. Our students and graduates engage with, and ultimately go on to work for, a wide variety of employers both within the UK and across the globe. Our ethical stance is clear – we do not dictate what any individual’s ethics and career path ought to be. We are there to support and guide students and graduates in their own journey, to enable them to make an informed decision.
Providing scholarships and support for universities in Gaza and students displaced by the conflict
Many of you have asked me what support we might be able to offer for universities in Gaza. We currently offer scholarships for refugees and scholars from across the world through our Postgraduate Humanitarian Scholarship and Undergraduate Asylum Seekers Scholarship. We are members of CARA (the Council for At-Risk Academics), which offers a number of scholarships for academics in conflict-affected areas around the world and is exploring Palestine-specific scholarships and partnerships, for when the conflict ends. Refugee and Asylum Seeker students can also receive bespoke advice and guidance through our Disrupted Education programme, including advice on admissions and support to attend Open Days and Applicant Discovery Days. We know that some colleagues want to help directly, including by supporting charities working with those affected – please see Our support for those impacted by global conflict and humanitarian disasters – About – University of Liverpool which includes a ‘how you can help’ section.
I hope that this message provides you with some reassurance and further detail about the current situation. In conclusion, I want to say that I will never try to minimise how complex and difficult these issues are, and I do not expect this message to satisfy everyone. But I would ask you all to remember that despite our different views and beliefs, we are one community and respect, courtesy and mutual understanding is the only way to foster a welcoming and inclusive culture on campus.