Advertisement

Oxford students backtrack on Christian Union freshers' fair ban after backlash

Balliol College banned — and then unbanned — the Christian Union (Rex)
Balliol College banned — and then unbanned — the Christian Union (Rex)

An Oxford University college has lifted its ban on the Christian Union attending a freshers’ fair, after the decision was condemned as “absurd” and “dangerous”.

Students at Balliol stopped the organisation from attending because they wanted the event to be a “safe and secular space” for everyone.

Organisers have since agreed to let religious groups be represented at future events.

A Christian Union spokeswoman said: “Last week Balliol College JCR Committee took the decision to prevent Christian Union representatives from attending its freshers’ fair on the grounds that they wished the fair to be a safe and secular space.”

She added that this sort of incident is “a pretty rare experience” and has been “amicably resolved”.

“Most student unions are fair-minded and enjoy a good relationship with the CU in their university,” she continued.

Balliol College said it is pleased “that the students themselves have now resolved this matter”.

“Following last night’s JCR motion, the Christian Union will be offered a stall at future freshers’ fairs,” a spokesman added.

“Balliol is a tolerant, friendly college where students of all faiths and none are free to worship and express their beliefs openly.”

The reverand Nigel Genders, the Church of England’s chief education officer, said: “Freedom of religion and belief is a fundamental principle that underpins our country and its great institutions and universities.

“Christian Unions represent some of the largest student-led organisations in many universities across the country and to exclude them in this way is to misunderstand the nature of debate and dialogue and at odds with the kind of society we are all seeking to promote.”

The Rev Richard Cunningham, director of Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, said freedom of speech and freedom of association are “surely foundational to the university experience and indeed to basic human flourishing”.

Student paper Cherwell saw a leaked email chain discussing the ban.

According to the paper, JCR Vice President Freddy Potts, on behalf of the JCR Welfare Subcommittee, wrote: “We recognise the wonderful advantages in having CU representatives at the freshers’ fair, but are concerned that there is potential for harm to freshers who are already struggling to feel welcome in Oxford.

“Our sole concern is that the presence of the CU alone may alienate incoming students. This sort of alienation or micro-aggression is regularly dismissed as not important enough to report, especially when there is little to no indication that other students or committee members may empathise, and inevitably leads to further harm of the already most vulnerable and marginalised groups.”

JCR President Hubert Au said that a “multifaith” stall ultimately went ahead last week, but the Christian Union boycotted it.

On Facebook, Au wrote: “Ultimately, it was reached to have a multifaith stall rather than a CU stall specifically, in light of both concerns raised by members Welfare Sub and by an undergraduate survey conducted last term which indicated a lack of familiarity as to where non-Christian societies, events and services were located.”

He added: “We didn’t want to monopolise the presence of any individual faith/belief society at the Balliol freshers’ fair.”

Tory MP Tim Loughton wrote on Twitter: “Attempts by organisers of freshers’ fair at Balliol Oxford to ban Christian Union claiming the religion was viewed as ‘alienating’ ‘micro-aggression’ is another chilling example of how dangerous censorship by the left is the biggest threat to free speech on campus.”