In defence of the sacred values of academia

Author: Prof. Damien Ernst [PDF]

As many of you may have already learned, while teaching four weeks ago, I was physically attacked by a number of masked individuals in a brutal manner. I will not lie to you. I was extremely upset and shaken after the event, though not only for reasons you might logically expect. This was not only because I was left feeling afraid or humiliated by the incident, with the attack being filmed and subsequently shared online across the globe, but also because this was clearly an escalated attack on the academic world as a whole, an attack behind which lies a form of political radicalisation to which we have, until now, too often turned a blind eye.

Academia belongs in a world of freedom, open exchanges, creativity, respect and passionate discussion. There is no place in that world for intimidation and physical abuse. I have no wish to single out any group, individuals of any particular political affinity, or to stigmatise any particular organisation after this attack. Instead, I would prefer to emphasise that where violence of this nature is concerned, it is often the consequence of a lack of education, of a lack of capacity to analyse complex situations, to express in a meaningful way frustration or fear about the world we live in. It is difficult to understand academia being the target of such a violent attack when it is the likes of universities and other higher education institutions which are the natural and logical answer to the problem. These are places where you can learn to analyse complex situations, to express your frustrations and fears through dialogue, and to engage in rational and thoughtful discussions with the highest standards of intellectual honesty, moral integrity and respect.

However, despite the upset and stress I have been through as a result of the attack, I feel truly blessed. Not just because of your immense and humbling support, but also because, whatever has befallen me, I have always experienced a profound sense of serenity whenever I have carried out research. To me, and, I believe, to many others, research is a form of art, and art brings serenity, as the French painter Henri Matisse so beautifully put it. I am slowly finding this serenity once again while working with my colleagues on developing our research. Continuing to do the best research I can is also my way of saying that I will always stand, together with them, in defence of the sacred values of academia: freedom of inquiry, intellectual openness, respect, reasoned disagreement and the peaceful pursuit of knowledge.