Press release: Freedom of speech at risk as UCT places guest lecture “on hold”
The 2024 Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture was to be delivered on 17 October by alumnus Claudius Senst, the chief executive of Bild newspaper, Germany’s largest daily by circulation. However, one day before the event the university announced that it had decided to put the event on ice “to allow for further discussions” in the light of “deep concerns” expressed by “stakeholders”.
FSU SA is concerned that a postponed event will become a cancelled event, and that once again UCT will have caved to the anti-free speech lobby. We urge the Vice-Chancellor to uphold the right for the divergence of opinions.