Professor David Ruebain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality and Inclusion)

Dear Colleague, 

In this month’s update I would like to highlight:  

• Survey to help advance race and gender equality 

• LGBTQ History month   

• Holocaust memorial events at Sussex  

• Open Listening Programme – next steps  

• Freedom of Speech Code of Practice  

• Sussex Awards  

• Upcoming religious observances  

Activities to advance race and gender equality  

As part of our race and gender equality work, I hope you have seen that the EDI Charter survey is currently open. Your responses will be important in helping us review progress against existing Race Equality Charter and Athena Swan action plans, and in informing ongoing and future action. You should have received an email on 16 February from our survey partners People Insight with a unique link to complete the survey, which will be open until Wednesday 4 March. It only takes a few minutes. 

LGBT+ History Month  

LGBT+ History Month is celebrated in schools, universities, workplaces and communities across the UK every February.  

The theme for this year’s celebration of our rich and diverse histories is Science and Innovation, highlighting British LGBT+ historical figures key in this area. Various events have already taken place, and some exhibitions across Brighton and wider Sussex are open for the rest of February and beyond. See the recent article for more information on these, and about the networks in place to support LGBTQ+ staff and students.  

Holocaust memorial events 

As mentioned in January’s Inclusive Sussex Update, earlier this month the University held two events to remember the Holocaust at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts.  

On Wednesday 4 February attendees from local schools and the wider community gathered at our annual Holocaust Memorial Day event and heard powerful testimony from Holocaust Survivor Malka Levine. Links to recordings of the event will be shared on the Staff Hub when available.  

The University’s third Remembering the Roma Holocaust event was held on 5 February and featured a curated exhibition alongside a deeply moving talk by Janna Eliot, author of Settela’s Last Road. The novel, often described as a “Gypsy Anne Frank”, provides a powerful lens through which to reflect on the persecution and murder of an estimated 300,000–500,000 Roma, Sinti, and Traveller people during the Holocaust. Read more about the event.  

Open Listening Programme – next steps  

We have been reviewing next steps with the University's Open Listening Programme, an initiative which seeks to build the individual and collective capability of staff and students to engage with difficult conversations and issues and to develop a culture of listening and understanding across different life experiences and identities. The Programme has now delivered a number of introductory workshops including one for leaders, an Applied Programme for participants who wished to deepen their understanding and skills, and some thematic activities focused on particular contested issues. 

We aim to build on this with further introductory sessions, again including for leaders, alongside a possible second round of the applied programme. We will also continue to support the Applied Open Listening participants to develop and use their skills.  

If you have any questions about the Open Listening Programme, please contact the EDI team at: EDI.unit@sussex.ac.uk. 

Freedom of Speech Code of Practice  

Last June, the Office for Students (the English University sector regulator) published detailed guidance (RA24) on obligations to secure and promote freedom of speech. Since then, we have been reviewing and revising a range of policies and procedures, including amendments to the University’s Freedom of Speech Code of Practice (FOSCOP) and last term, the FOSCOP was updated. Changes include:  

• broadened procedures to cover all meetings and activities 

• clarification of potentially offensive speech within the law 

• clearer risk assessment processes that prioritise enabling events to proceed 

• stricter criteria for when security costs can be passed to event organisers, ensuring this happens only in exceptional circumstances.  

We are working with various University departments and with the Students' Union to implement these changes across all relevant processes, which impact many of our activities. The code also contains a useful flow chart to help navigate the events approval process.  

Sussex Awards  

I am delighted to see nominations coming in for the Diverse and Inclusive Sussex category in this year’s Sussex Awards. Nominations close on 22 February. I know we have lots of staff delivering fantastic work in this area, so please do nominate your colleagues in this and the other 16 categories.  

Upcoming religious observances 

Ramadan began yesterday evening, 17 February, marking the start of a month of fasting and prayer for Muslims on campus and beyond. Our student Islamic Society is offering free Iftar (fast-breaking) meals each evening in the Prayer Room. Ramadan Mubarak to all who are celebrating.  

Today, 18 February, is Ash Wednesday, the start of the Christian period of Lent. Lent is a time of reflection leading up to Easter, and during this period many Christians give up something, engage in prayer, or fast to symbolise repentance. 

Holi, the Hindu ‘festival of colours’, is celebrated on Wednesday 4 March to mark the arrival of spring. Jewish students and staff may be fasting for the Fast of Esther just before Purim on Monday 2 March, and Buddhists may mark Chötrul Düchen on Tuesday 3 March, which celebrates the performance of miracles by the Buddha. 

My best wishes to everyone marking these religious events, and any others over the next month.   

With good wishes, 

David Ruebain 
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality, and Inclusion)

Events underway and coming up

Information about upcoming awareness days will be shared on the Staff Hub.   

This work supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). You can read more about our work on the SDGs.