Dons embroiled in bitter debate over Amnesty Lectures
The lectures, held in the Sheldonian, have sparked debate
Lectures provided by Oxford Amnesty have sparked heated debate amongst university dons. In an article in the Oxford Magazine, a publication written by Oxford fellows, St Peter’s tutor Dr Lawrence Goldman raised concerns over Oxford Amnesty Lectures’ (OAL) association with the university. Goldman wrote that, ‘the Amnesty group are not appropriate users of the Sheldonian; it should not be politicised as an arena for the views of any self-appointed clique.
He argued that the programme of lectures offered by Amnesty is imbalanced in its arguments, and tends to be based on an anti-American stance. Chris Miller, the co-founder of the Oxford Amnesty Lectures told The Oxford Student, “when you look at our list of lecturers, it is absolutely absurd to suggest that all these people harbour anti-American sentiments. He fails to understand what the Oxford Amnesty Lectures are about.
He thinks we use the word Oxford to confuse people, but we do it because we’re based in Oxford.” Other dons have also joined the Lectures’ organisers in criticising Dr. Goldman’s article. John Gardner, a professor of Philosophy and Law at University College said, “The anti- American or anti-Western theme has certainly passed me by. Lectures have shown no general ideological stance except for a slant in favour of intellectual debate.
The university Proctors have offered Goldman the opportunity to run rival lectures. However, Goldman said, “I won’t make the same mistake as Oxford Amnesty itself and lecture prejudiced complex issues. The curious relationship between the University of Oxford and Oxford Amnesty should be terminated or at least altered so that the Sheldonian can be reclaimed as the heart of a place of true learning.
Since its inception in 1992, the Oxford Amnesty Lecture series has brought several eminent speakers to Oxford including Jacques Derrida, Hélène Cixous, Eva Hoffman and Eric Hobsbawm. Miller said, “the University has a high regard for us. I think the bee in Dr.
Goldman’s bonnet, and it is a considerable bee considering he has contacted the Proctors, is to do with an article I wrote setting out the themes of the lectures in which I suggested that the United States should not be torturing people and that Israel is involved with state terrorism. Dr. Goldman’s accusations have been ill-informed.” Dr. Goldman declined to comment further when contacted by the Oxford Student.
27th Apr 2006