La Trobe University lifts ban on Bettina Arndt talk at student Liberal Club event

La Trobe University reverses a ban on Bettina Arndt addressing students on what she says is the myth of a rape crisis on campus.

Psychologist Bettina Arndt.

Administrators at Melbourne’s La Trobe University have done an about-face on a decision to block sex therapist Bettina Arndt from addressing a student Liberal Club event, but have told the club it will have to pay for extra security.

The university Liberal Club invited Ms Arndt to address students on what she says is the myth of a rape crisis on campus, but now fears it will be priced out of hosting the event by security costs imposed by administrators.

La Trobe initially denied the club a room in which to hold the event on August 14 for about 100 people, with two administrators allegedly telling Liberal Club members that Ms Arndt’s planned address did not align with the university’s campaign against sexual violence.

A sex therapist and psychologist, Ms Arndt was a critic of a report compiled by the Human Rights Commission that alleged sexual harassment was endemic to Australian campuses.

Her address — titled “Is there a rape crisis on university campuses?” — will continue her argument that the commission’s report overstated the incidence of rape on campus and actually showed “hardly any rape and only a lot of unwanted staring”.

The university yesterday changed its position on the talk, with administrators contacting club organisers to confirm the event could go ahead so long as the club was prepared to pay the costs of any extra security it might have to put on for the occasion.

When pressed on the decision, a university spokesman confirmed that some members of faculty had initially had concerns that Ms Arndt’s address did not align with the university’s own campaign to combat sexual violence on campus, which had been guided by the commission’s report.

“The uni has put a lot of effort into (implementing changes recommended in the Human Rights Commission report) and what we’re trying to do is create an environment on campus that’s safe, respectful and inclusive,” the spokesman said. “And while there were some concerns in some ­pockets about the event, we also prize free speech and we’re big enough to include a diversity of opinions in our discussions.”

The fuss made by the university has angered some students and the keynote speaker.

“I feel students need to know that the HRC’s results showed, thankfully, that sexual assault is actually really rare at universities,” Ms Arndt said.

“I think it is appalling that universities, our centres of higher learning, are conspiring with feminists to lie about the research, frighten young women and demon­ise male students.”

The Liberal Club says it almost became the victim of censorship.

“I’m ashamed (the university’s) first instinct is to censor us and the first reaction is to stamp (controversial ideas) out rather than letting open debate happen,” La Trobe University Liberal Club president James Plozza said.

“They’ve just mucked us about, and it feels like they’re trying to make it as hard as possible for this event to happen.”

The club is yet to find out how much the extra security will cost

The university has said it will cover the cost of any counselling required if students who attend the talk are upset by its content.