Sussex University To Be Investigated After Professor Forced To Quit Over Transgender Row

A watchdog will be investigating the circumstances under which an academic at Sussex University was forced to quit over a transgender row.

It's after Professor Kathleen Stock was targeted by students and shunned by some staff over her views on transgender identity.

The Office for Students will be looking into, "whether or not the university has met its obligations for academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law for all students and staff, whatever their views."

Stock, who has publicly stood up for the rights of transgender people, was the focus of a campaign by students who put up posters of her around the Uni calling for her to leave her post. She also faced death threats .

The professor says she has always championed for the rights of transgender people to, "live their lives free from fear, violence, harassment or any discrimination" and "I think that discussing female rights is compatible with defending these trans rights".

However, she has opposed transgender self-identification in regards to proposed reforms to the 2004 UK Gender Recognition Act. 

She asserts that many trans women are "still males with male genitalia, many are sexually attracted to females, and they should not be in places where females undress or sleep in a completely unrestricted way."

This view has labelled her a transphobic among many of her students and peers.

Stock resigned from her position last month after 18 years at the university and will be taking a role in an American University, which champions free speech.

As reported in The Daily Mail, Baroness Barran, education minister in the House of Lords, told peers on Tuesday:

"The Office for Students has decided to open an investigation into whether the University of Sussex met its obligations on academic freedom and freedom of speech. 

"No academic should have to fear for their personal safety, particularly as a consequence of expressing lawful views."

And Labour peer Lord Hunt of Kings Heath added:

"Other academics in many other universities are facing similar abuse, particularly women, for basically gender critical views.

"However much legislation you have, you need to have confidence in our universities to show some strength in defending their academics."

Prof Stock subsequently thanked the Lords for taking up the issue.

The OfS says it will not be commenting further on this investigation while it is ongoing.

On its website it states:

"The OfS considers academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law to be essential to the strength of the higher education sector in England. Students are entitled to be taught by academic staff with a wide range of views and who can freely express lawful views, no matter how controversial they are, without fear of losing their jobs or privileges. All students and staff are also entitled to the protections offered by equality legislation, and these must extend to all protected characteristics, including philosophical beliefs."