Stonewall

Free Speech Union’s letter to Jeremy Miles 25/2/2022

A Cardiff University spokesperson said: “We are aware of a letter sent to the Minister for Education and shared on social media. We have not received this letter and it is disappointing that were not given the opportunity to respond to the serious allegations raised.

“We dispute the claim that these matters have not been thoroughly investigated. We have undertaken an investigation and found that there was insufficient evidence to link Cardiff University staff or students to any actions that would breach our internal disciplinary codes.  We have liaised with South Wales Police since June 2021, and they have confirmed that they do not intend to take any action.

“We believe we have acted appropriately and with the best intentions in safeguarding the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and students, and we will continue to support every member of our community, regardless of their views or identity, and uphold their right to freedom of expression.

“A small number of signatories of the initial letter have complained to the University. Ongoing academic, pastoral and security advice and support has been offered to those members of staff and we have remained in constant dialogue with some of them over the last few months. We will continue to support our staff and students on all sides of these difficult debates whilst upholding our commitment to free speech.

“A leaflet was distributed at a protest held outside Cardiff University in June 2021. The protest was organised by someone outside the University community. It is implied that the leaflet associated with the protest, and subsequent stickers, are the work of Cardiff University staff or students. We have no evidence to suggest that this is the case. Some staff have reported a few instances of stickers being put up in the public realm. These stickers were removed, and the relevant authorities were informed. The stickers and the pamphlet have been reported to South Wales Police.

“Given the concerns that the protest and the pamphlet raised, the University’s Vice-Chancellor wrote to all staff on 30th June, making it clear that whilst the pamphlet did not appear to be the work of members of our community, behaviour of this sort is entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our community.

“The Vice-Chancellor has been clear that all members of the University are free to express their views within the law. Our duty as an institution is to facilitate courteous, even if robust, discussion between different groups. We continue to support every member of our community who feels that they are unsafe or discriminated against owing to their views or their identity. Heads of School and colleagues in Security have offered their personal support to colleagues who have expressed gender-critical views, and we have made adjustments where individuals have raised concerns regarding their safety.

“We are aware that a windscreen was damaged on campus. Security staff provided advice and support to the individual member of staff whose property was damaged. We have no evidence that this incident is linked to the other events outlined here.”

Daw cryfder Prifysgol Caerdydd o'i chymuned amrywiol. Mae ein hymrwymiad i'n cymuned LHDTQ+ yn un hirsefydlog a diwyro. Rydym yn falch iawn o'r gwaith rydym wedi'i wneud i sicrhau bod staff a myfyrwyr LHDTQ+ yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu croesawu a'u gwerthfawrogi. Rydym yn cydnabod hefyd y rôl y mae Stonewall wedi'i chwarae yn natblygiad polisïau ac arferion sydd wedi helpu i greu'r amgylchedd cefnogol yr ydym yn ei werthfawrogi cymaint.

Mae pob aelod staff a phob myfyriwr yn bwysig i ni ac rydym yn parhau i fod yn gwbl ymrwymedig i roi profiad diogel a hapus i bawb mewn modd sy’n eu hysgogi’n academaidd.

Mae rhyddid academaidd yn ganolog i ni. Rydym yn brifysgol ymchwil-ddwys sy’n annog trafodaethau academaidd sy’n dangos parch, ac rydym yn cydnabod hawl unigolion, o fewn y gyfraith, i arddel safbwyntiau na fydd eraill yn cytuno â nhw o bosibl. Rydym yn ymwybodol bod cynnwys wedi’i rannu mewn digwyddiad ac ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol sydd wedi gwneud i aelodau o’n cymuned deimlo nad ydynt yn ddiogel. Gadewch inni fod yn glir - mae hyn yn gwbl annerbyniol.

Rydym wedi derbyn un llythyr ynglŷn â'n perthynas â Stonewall ac rydym yn ymwybodol o ail lythyr. Rydym yn cydnabod y teimladau cryfion y mae'r mater hwn wedi'u hysgogi. Mae ein polisi cydraddoldeb, amrywiaeth a chynhwysiant yn pwysleisio ein hymrwymiad i 'feithrin cysylltiadau da rhwng gwahanol grwpiau'. Dros yr haf, byddwn yn awyddus i drafod gyda'n rhwydwaith Enfys LHDTQ +, llofnodwyr y llythyr cychwynnol, a Stonewall. Y bwriad fydd cydnabod a deall pryderon pawb o dan sylw ac, os oes modd, helpu i feithrin gwell dealltwriaeth rhwng y gwahanol grwpiau. Er ein bod yn gwybod na fydd pawb yn cytuno yn ôl pob tebyg, byddem yn croesawu'r cyfle i hwyluso trafodaeth ystyrlon a'r cyfle i herio safbwyntiau mewn modd parchus.

Yn y cyfamser rydym yn ymwybodol y gallai’r digwyddiadau hyn fod wedi peri gofid i lawer o'r rhai sy'n gysylltiedig, a gallai rhai fod yn teimlo’n agored i niwed. Gall yr holl staff a myfyrwyr sydd wedi’u heffeithio fod yn dawel eu meddwl o ran ein cefnogaeth: gall myfyrwyr gysylltu â studentconnect@caerdydd.ac.uk a gall staff gysylltu â rhwydwaith Enfys (enfys@caerdydd.ac.uk) neu'r Rhaglen Cymorth i Weithwyr, Care First. Rydym yn cydnabod bod y trafodaethau hyn yn anodd, a gofynnwn i bawb o dan sylw wneud eu gorau glas i gefnogi pob aelod o'n cymuned.

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Ymateb i Wales Online - 21/06/21

Rydym yn ymwybodol o'r ddau lythyr ac rydym yn cydnabod pa mor gryf yw’r teimladau yn eu cylch. Maent yn llythyrau manwl ac ystyriol, a byddwn yn ymateb maes o law.

Daw ein cryfder fel prifysgol o'n cymuned amrywiol. Er ein bod yn annog trafodaethau academaidd sy’n dangos parch, mae ein hymrwymiad i'n cymuned LHDTQ+ yn un hirsefydlog a diwyro.

Rydym yn parhau i fod yn aelod o Gynllun Hyrwyddwyr Amrywiaeth Stonewall. Pan ddaw’r adeg i adnewyddu ein haelodaeth ym mis Hydref 2021, fel sy’n digwydd fel mater o drefn gyda’n holl gysylltiadau, byddwn yn adolygu ein partneriaeth ac yn dod i benderfyniad ynglŷn â’n cysylltiad parhaus drwy ymgynghori â’n cymuned academaidd a’r myfyrwyr.