2024 Massada Annual Lecture Terms & conditions

Preamble

Worcester College (the College) is committed to the promotion of Free Speech, which is an important value in our democratic society and is protected by law. The College is the beneficiary of a bequest by Ms Sheila (Storm) Kelly in the name of her parents, Israel and Ione Massada. The Massada Programme was established in 2016 to support academic exchanges between Israel and Oxford, and also supports a Junior Research Fellowship, and an Annual Lecture at which leading Israeli cultural figures, commentators and academics are invited to lecture on a variety of subjects of their choosing. This year’s lecture will take place on 30th May and will be given by Dr Ilana Dayan, a leading Israeli investigative journalist and academic whose talk is entitled: ’Dilemmas of Journalism: Media in Times of War.’

In light of the Hamas attacks and seizure of hostages in Israel on October 7th and the subsequent war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the College is aware of the increasing tensions in and beyond Oxford.

Given Worcester College’s commitment to free speech and rigorous academic debate (www.worc.ox.ac.uk/fos), the College wishes to ensure that Dr Dayan’s lecture proceeds in a respectful and courteous manner. To achieve this outcome, attendees agree to abide by the College free speech framework and the following principles, which include:

Key Principles

1. The event will take place within the parameters of the law.
2. Registration will only be open to members of the University of Oxford and University Bod Cards will be checked on entry.
3. The event will take place within the parameters of the University of Oxford’s Code of Practice regarding Free Speech, its statement on Freedom of Speech, and the College’s Freedom of Speech Policy.
4. As is always the case with College events, statements made by the speaker are her personal views, and not necessarily the views of the College or its members.
5. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of the speaker during the Q&A. Naturally, her views may be interrogated and challenged, but such challenges should be made courteously.
6. By attending the event, attendees agree to respect the speaker’s right to speak and to be heard without heckling or any other form of visible or audible protest.
7. There will be no use of social media, recording, photography, or filming at the event, save for official photographs of the event and the speaker taken by the College.
8. The Provost will chair the event to:

• oversee the conduct of the lecture and the proceedings, keep to the timetable, and facilitate contributions from the floor during Q&A
• uphold the principles of free speech
• uphold the need for respect, courtesy and consideration as required by the University’s Harassment Policy

Attendees and the speaker are required to respect the authority of the Chair and comply with his requests to keep to time and end or pause their contributions. However, the Chair should make such requests only for the purpose of allowing the event to proceed and for free speech to be upheld.

 
Worcester College, May 2024

Addendum – 28/05/24

The wearing of badges and other forms of expression through dress are permitted.