The University of Sussex has been hit with a £585,000 fine after a probe by the Office for Students (OfS) concluded it failed to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom on campus.

The investigation began after widespread protests in 2021 calling for the dismissal of Professor Kathleen Stock, who had been accused of transphobia following the publication of a book on gender identity. She later described the campus environment as feeling like a "surreal anxiety dream" and resigned that same year.

The OfS found that the university's internal policies, particularly its "Trans and Non-Binary Equality Policy Statement," did not align with the legal requirements to safeguard freedom of speech and academic freedom. The report also highlighted broader issues in how the university was managed, saying its failures may have caused staff and students to self-censor.

Arif Ahmed, the OfS’s Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom, emphasized that free speech is vital to the health of higher education in the UK. He said the university committed "significant and serious breaches" of the OfS’s rules and that the fine reflected the seriousness of the case.

In response, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sasha Roseneil announced that the university would legally challenge the OfS's conclusions. She expressed concern that the ruling would make it nearly impossible for universities to address bullying, harassment, or hate speech effectively. Roseneil accused the OfS of pushing a “libertarian free speech absolutism” agenda and said the lengthy investigation did not even include interviews with university staff.

She added that while the university regretted the situation surrounding Professor Stock's departure, Sussex had consistently supported her right to express her beliefs. Roseneil reiterated the university’s commitment to academic freedom and fostering diverse viewpoints and identities.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson supported the OfS's stance, calling free speech and academic freedom "non-negotiable" in higher education. She said students should expect to encounter opposing views and that the government is strengthening the OfS's authority to prevent the kind of "chilling effect" seen at Sussex.

The OfS is the independent body that regulates higher education institutions in England. Photo by Umezo KAMATA, Wikimedia commons.