If there is one thing I hold most dear in a democratic society is the right (enshrined in our laws) to be able to speak freely. We all should be safe to do so.

Imagine my horror when I learnt that Massey University had cancelled a speech by an ex Reserve Bank Governor / National Party leader citing healthy and safety grounds – grounds which turned out to be purely fictitious.

This raised a red flag for me and since I want to keep the right to speak freely safe from meddlers I have kept an eye on Massey.

If there is one place that should be “un safe” it is a University. It is the one place where people should have their opinions, thoughts and research tested and challenged. There should be no “safe zones”. If you want to be safe from “hurtful” views then don’t go to University.

So then I learnt Massey had a “Rainbow Tick” which as I mentioned in Simons “Zero Harm” thread is another worthless piece of corporate mumbo jumbo – but it does serve as another trigger warning that GroupThink rules. True to form this red Flag has proven to be a useful hazard warning.

Now I learn Massey are once again citing “health, Safety and well being” concerns and have cancelled a Feminism 2020 event. My heart goes out to women (and men) who might have wanted to attend. This is utter balderdash.

So Massey, here is how you manage the risk:
- Firstly you encourage your community to listen.
- Then you encourage them to think
- And then you provide them with the resources to come up with facts or evidence or a method to come to a logical view
- You then provide an opportunity for alternative views to be expressed and tested
- In the event some people want to quash academic rigour and there is a risk of a law being broken you call in the police.

In the meantime I will treat any qualification coming from Massey in the same way I treat a qualification from a third world country. Worthless unless proven otherwise. And I question the judgement of those who choose Massey as their education provider of choice.

And I hope corporates will stop using “health and safety” as a crutch for supporting their woeful positions.

Rant over!