Many of you are probably already subscribers/members of the NZ Free Speech Union, if not, can I point you in the direction of their revelatory 'Academic Freedom Report 2023'.
As Professor Elizabeth Rata who has been at the pointy end of academic censorship points out ;
"A well-functioning university is the product of an inquisitive society that is open to change. Our society faces challenges on so many fronts today: economic, environmental, educational, democratic, social, and more. While the university is not the only party that has a role in addressing these challenges, academics are supposed to help us understand the problems we are facing, and test and develop the potential solutions.
Yet, this cannot happen if the experts in their fields are not free to voice solutions which are unpopular or controversial. Academic freedom means that we are supposed to be able to do our jobs, to serve New Zealand by understanding the true facts of these issues, not just what we assume them to be. Today, I believe we have less academic freedom to truly research and address the biggest issues facing our country than we have had at any point in my academic career.
As the Free Speech Union's Annual Academic Freedom Report claims: Foremost amongst these themes, is what can only be described as a climate of fear in academic settings. Multiple respondents told us about their fear of speaking up on certain topics, the penalties they felt would result in terms of job loss or barriers to promotion if they did, and their constant self-censorship. Even filling in this survey was perceived as risky by some."
It appears that many of those walking the halls of our higher learning institutions are afraid, very afraid.This report can be found here; Academic freedom report 2023