The Vidkun Quisling of Parramatta Road

Bettina Arndt’s attempts to speak on campus have been subjected to what can only be described as a campaign of mounting harassment and, shamefully, official delay and obstruction. Her offence is daring to challenge the absurd narrative that universities are little Ugandas of rape and sexual attack. It’s nonsense, of course, as Bettina has been attempting to point out, but careers are being made of this and the howlers’ din disorients those who know of principle, but only in nodding acquaintance.

Sydney University has declared itself the latest institution to side with thugs by demanding the Liberal Club, which invited Bettina, pay to be protected from the black-clad scum and blue-haired harridans for whom a night of flinging abuse, missiles and cowards’ punches is fine entertainment.

See also: Shame and Sandstone

The threats and attacks are never mirrored by the campus right, so leftoids can gather without fear or additional expense. Vice-Chancellor Michael Spence’s (above) decision to burden the blameless would seem to signal a strange wish that his stewardship be remembered as time when principle, free speech and the right to debate in safety were sacrificed to appease a small but noisy mob. Perhaps he is cowed by face piercings and the rattle of human cutlery drawers.

There is a war of sorts going on, the boundaries of what one is allowed to say pushed back ever further, day by day. The Australian Christian Lobby cannot hold a meeting because the hotel, deluged with threats, cancels the booking. Visiting speakers are besieged at their engagements by flying squads of bullies, then billed by police for the protection their tormenters make necessary. Margaret Court is harassed and spat upon. Andrew Bolt cannot launch a book and then, in a crime that has seen no arrest, he is set upon by masked hoods. A former prime minister cops a head butt on a public street. We all know of these outrages and, even more distressing, we see how those who should be defending free speech, that most basic right, instead align with the party of the gag-and-throttle.

Now, rather than lead the resistance, instead defending what a university should represent and Sydney University no longer does, Vice-Chancellor Spence bids welcome at the open gates, the Vidkun Quisling of Parramatta Road.

— online editor

Below, Bettina Arndt’s latest report from the front:

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Hi, Everyone,
The battle continues with Sydney University. I am supposed to be speaking there next Tues evening, September 11. The administration stalled for 12 days, claiming the application for a venue was being processed. At the weekend I finally wrote to the Vice-Chancellor, Michael Spence, reminding him that he had recently given an interview claiming his university was “a place where ideas are challenged and tested, but where evidence is called for.”

When the letter was released to the press Spence finally responded, offering a venue but announcing the Liberal Club students would be charged for security. He presented them with a bill for nearly $500, plus the room hire. 

We have decided to tell the university the event is going ahead without the Liberal Club students paying for security and Spence is being informed that it is his responsibility to ensure unruly students do not disrupt the event. If the university believes other students are likely to create a problem with regard to the event, it is up to the university to ensure no disruption takes place.  We will see what happens now. I’ll let you know how it all pans out before next Tuesday. 

But assuming it works out as planned, Sydneysiders please come along and support me. September 11, 6 pm. Quad History Room s223. <a>Tickets available here</a>

Meanwhile the La Trobe campus talk is today. (Thurs, September 6, 11 am ELT-3, Bundoora.) Everyone is welcome.

Last night Jack O’Brien, President of the Sydney University Liberal Student Club was on The Bolt Report on Sky News, talking about what’s happening. He did a great job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAdarOJkFKA&feature=youtu.be

This morning on Radio 2GB Alan Jones talked to Mark Latham about my battle with Sydney Uni <a href=”http://a href=”https://youtu.be/1PxJRB74yoA” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer” data-saferedirecturl=”https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://youtu.be/1PxJRB74yoA&source=gmail&ust=1536241142002000&usg=AFQjCNFXwPmOrZFbPcgSKwvbXhDzfxez4w”>https://youtu.be/1PxJRB74yoA” rel=”nofollow”>– see here:</a>

It’s great if you can circulate these interviews. We’re getting them up on my Facebook page to make it easier for you to do that. https://www.facebook.com/Bettina-Arndt-146481039248876/

Also see below, the article about all this in the Higher Education section of The Australian. Subscribers please post comments online. It helps get stories about my campus tour into the paper.   

Oh yes, the other thing I meant to mention was I was supposed to be talking to Germaine Greer today about her book on rape but she has had a fall and has cancelled all her events this week. Hopefully my interview  might happen in a few weeks but I wasn’t sorry to have this one drop off the list  at this crazy time.     

Until next time, Tina