The University has adopted a new Statement on Freedom of Speech following voting on a grace, a type of University legislation, presented to Regent House. The results were announced on Wednesday (09/12). The statement, first drafted in March, replaces a previous version from 2016, and was passed with three amendments claiming to make it “clearer and more liberal”. Dr Arif Ahmed, a reader at the Faculty of Philosophy who authored the amendments, told Varsity that the result of the vote confirmed that his colleagues are concerned about freedom of speech. “Although many academics are perhaps unwilling to speak openly about it, when they have the opportunity to reveal their preferences through a secret ballot, they did actually show that they care about freedom of speech and want it protected,” he said.