Whatever the government’s hopes, its free speech on campus bill can not settle any of the enduring issues

This is made clear by Carolyn Evans (Griffith U VC) and Adrienne Stone, with Jade Roberts (both Uni Melbourne), in their new book Open Minds, published this morning.

It’s a comprehensive guide to the implications of the local campus controversies which shaped the government’s intent but the book goes way beyond this to address universal and enduring issues.

They set out ample evidence that does not encourage optimism, and yet they are, “the overriding tenor of the book is, we hope, optimistic.

“We are determined idealists. Universities are not simply forums for the politics of society at large. They are not commercial institutions, nor are they instruments of government. They are special communities dedicated to teaching and research. Their challenges are many and complex, but we believe it is essential, and also possible, for universities to be faithful to the core ideals of the university, even in the modern globalised and commercialised age.”

There’s an extract in CMM, here.