Open Letter to the Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, Karen O'Brien

Dear Vice-Chancellor,

Under your watch the university gave in to a mob of several individuals. They disrupted access to the venue hosting the Durham Union Society’s debate on the motion “This House Believes Palestinian Leadership is the Biggest Barrier to Peace”. You responded by cancelling the debate. You let the emotions of several trespassers take precedence over the fundamental right to freedom of expression and association which belongs to thousands of students and staff.

It was within your authority to call upon the police to ensure access to the venue and address any disorder. The police can only act on trespassing matters if notified by the university, and it was their role to manage the situation according to their protocols. Instead of asking the police to remove the trespassers, you chose to cancel the debate.

Your justification for this decision, citing ‘advice from the Police’ and concerns for public safety, is nothing but a smokescreen. The statement from Durham Constabulary has not yet been released, but the exact nature of their advice will soon be revealed. Footage and witness statements already suggest there was no significant risk to public safety and that the trespassers could have been handled away, allowing the event to proceed as planned and in line with the wishes of the Union.

By cancelling the event, you have undermined the institution’s commitment to upholding the rules designed to protect freedom of speech. You have yielded to a minor disruption, thereby neglecting nearly 200 years of tradition in one of the UK’s oldest debating societies. This shows a pattern of poor decision-making and leadership. Initially, you failed to address the unauthorised encampment on university grounds, which violated the university’s code on protest. In line with the broken window theory, this only emboldened the trespassers to attempt shutting down the Union event. By caving in again and cancelling the event, you have turned the university’s ethos into dust.

Your actions represent a failure to protect the institution and its values, compromising the legacy for past, current, and future generations of students and staff. It is evident that you had the opportunity to respond appropriately, yet you chose to avoid confrontation, demonstrating a lack of leadership and judgement.

In light of this, we are calling for naming and resignation of council members involved in the decision to cancel the event. Until such actions are taken, we will withhold any financial and alumni relations support.

Sincerely,

Durham University students, alumni, and staff.