La Trobe students may have read in the media that several sessions were cancelled at this year\u2019s Bendigo Writers Festival, which was held recently in regional Victoria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
La Trobe has been a long-term supporter of the Festival, which is organised by the City of Greater Bendigo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cancellation of sessions occurred as a result of some authors choosing to withdraw from the event, having received a code of conduct from the Bendigo Writers Festival which La Trobe supported. Codes of conduct are not unusual at writers\u2019 festivals, and the code was not intended to suppress or silence conversation, but rather to enable the respectful exchange of views, including on challenging matters, in a way that ensures community safety. While it is disappointing that some writers chose to withdraw from the Festival, we do acknowledge that it was their decision to take. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At La Trobe we want to assure everyone in our community that the University fully supports public discussion and debate on a diversity of perspectives and ideas, and we are committed to academic freedom and freedom of speech. At the same time, we have a legal duty of care to ensure that all our events \u2013 including those for which we are a sponsor \u2013 are safe, equitable, respectful, and inclusive for all members of our community. Achieving the right balance is not without its complexities and challenges, but universities like ours must always strive to achieve it. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The City of Greater Bendigo is one of our most important community partners. Our organisations share similar values, and we serve diverse, multicultural communities. We are also dedicated to supporting regional communities and nurturing Bendigo as an important educational and cultural centre in regional Victoria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We will review all aspects of the planning for and delivery of the Bendigo Writers Festival. La Trobe remains committed to thought leadership and promoting public discussion on important issues, and to making a dynamic contribution to the intellectual and cultural life of the communities we serve. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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