University student ‘erased’ by union for expressing gender-critical views – ‘Guilty by association!’
A university student has been removed from her radio committee position after expressing gender-critical views and interviewing controversial figures for her podcast.
Connie Shaw was suspended from her role as head of daytime programming following complaints about content she published on Graham Linehan’s Substack page.
Speaking to GB News, Shaw revealed she hasn’t been specifically told what led to her removal from the position.
The suspension came after Shaw conducted interviews with detransitioner Charlie Bentley Astor and writer Graham Linehan for her podcast series launched in September.
“It very quickly became apparent to me that it was an interrogation of my gender critical views, rather than any sort of misconduct.”
Shaw’s interviews sparked controversy due to her choice of guests, particularly Graham Linehan, known for his outspoken stance on transgender issues.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Mystery shipwreck leaves local baffled as explorer investigates debris in secluded cove
- Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby forced to issue desperate apology for ‘hurtful’ final speech
- Horrific fly-tipping forces charity to ditch donation bin after bags of rubbish repeatedly dumped
Emily Carver noted: “Graham Linehan has been outspoken on issues relating to transgender. And so perhaps just by having associated yourself with him as a controversial figure, that was why the investigation happened.”
Shaw responded: “Already it’s quite clear that guilt by association is a crime that you can commit within university societies.
“I actually purchased my free speech union membership way before this all happened.
“When a friend helped me edit the episode with Charlie, he got in trouble with a separate society, who told him that he must disassociate himself from me and if he didn’t, further measures would be taken.
“So at that point I thought, wow, I better put some damage control in place and purchase my membership in case anything happens to me.”
She added: “The process has been completely improper. They haven’t followed their own guidelines. There are two different guidelines as to whether a complaint is dealt with the society itself. So student radio or the union.
“It’s basically been a mishmash of both, it’s been an improper procedure, but it is as far as I’m aware, the union who’s decided to remove me. It’s a recommendation that they’ve given to the student radio. So it almost felt like it was up to the students themselves.
“As well as the fact that when I was suspended, before the investigation was over, my face and name were removed from the website and from the wall that had my face displayed.
“So it felt like I was already found to be guilty before the investigation was over.”
Emily said: “You are being erased.”
Shaw explained that she is a part of the Free Speech Union and they are appealing on her behalf.
She said: “I’ve had excellent help from them and they understand all the legal side of it. And that’s why we’re claiming that. We believe that I have been discriminated against on the basis of the Equality Act, where my views are specifically protected.
“Going forward, I’m a member of academics for Academic Freedom, and they have a student branch, which is open to all students across the country who are keen to protect freedom of speech and freedom of academia.
“It’s organisations like that that really encourage me to continue talking about these issues and not go quiet.
“I’d recommend to any student who has concerns about freedom of speech to get involved.”