According to reports, the Cambridge Union created a blacklist of ‘Stalinists’ speakers that has been banned.
President Keir Bradwell fired an email out to members to tell them who would be blocked from events.
It is said to include an art historian who was blasted by students for doing a Nazi impression last week.
Andrew Graham-Dixon was slammed for mimicking Adolf Hitler and using racial slurs during a debate on free speech to ‘show how offensive the dictator was’.
Soviet spy biographer Andrew Lownie – who was a previous president of the Cambridge Union – branded the blacklist ‘Stalinist’.
President Keir Brawell (pictured), sent out an email to all members to inform them about those being blocked from attending events
The group includes an art historian, who is alleged to have been criticized by students last week for performing a Nazi impression (pictured).
Andrew Lownie, a Soviet spy-biographer and a former president of the Cambridge Union was labeled the blacklist “Stalinist” (left), the Russian
Mr Bradwell’s email said he would ‘create a blacklist of speakers never to be invited back, and we will share it with other unions too’, adding: ‘Andrew will be on that list.’
His message, seen by the Telegraph, said he would ‘institutionalise firm definitions of racism — including anti-black racism and the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism’ and vow to ‘intervene in debates whenever, if ever, these are contravened’.
He added: ‘More widely, I will intervene if and when I feel it part of my duty to our members and audience to do so.’
Blacklists are only for students who claim that they were harmed by speakers after performing at the union.
Lownie wrote about Soviet spy Guy Burgess. He called the action ‘Stalinist.
He said: ‘I think this is appalling. It has always been a problem to hear from controversial speakers, and the presidents regularly invite them to speak at their programs.
“But, the fact is that they are permitted to debate in public debate and to make their case. Undergraduates can challenge this. It’s sad.
“This is a very Stalinist approach, which goes against all the ethos and reasons why the union was established and has flourished until recent.”
Bradwell stated that he was president because he has to strike a balance between free speech and the welfare of members.
He stated that he was keen to help students and future presidents make the right decision.
It comes after he was forced to apologise for Mr Graham-Dixon’s ‘crass and deeply insensitive’ impression of Hitler during a debate on ‘good taste’.
The guest speaker, 60, impersonated the German dictator as part of his argument against the motion ‘this house believes there is no such thing as good taste’.
His long impression of the Nazi leader, which contained racial slurs, racist and anti-Semitic views, was meant to show how offensive he was, according to historian.
Bradwell said that it was the “longest Hitler impression” the chamber ever heard.
Bradwell was captured admitting that he was “quite drunk” during the debate. However, he later admitted to having had two glasses and it did not affect his ability as a chairperson.
Bradwell initially admitted that he had been ‘quite drunk’ at the debate. But he said later that he had consumed two glasses of wine, which he denied had any effect on his ability as a chairperson.
His inability to intervene is solely due to his lack of courage.
Graham-Dixon stated during the debate that: “The romantic tradition in German art has been rejected by modern art.
‘This modern, horrible art that was promoted by the Jews… and the modern art, it was cubist – inspired by the art of the ne***s.
“This tribal artwork, uh, that is so horrible! We must expunge this from our Deutschland.
We are Aryan pure people. We are pure in our genetics, and our hearts, minds, and tastes should be pure.
Graham-Dixon was against the motion, despite the offense. The debate ended on Thursday night.
Bradwell opened a letter in which he wrote, “I want to apologize for any comments that were made during our Thursday evening debate.”
“Neither the society nor I condone the use of grotesque and thoughtless language by the person in question. I’m sorry that I didn’t intervene.
“The speaker used a crude and insensitive impression of Hitler in order to argue against the notion that bad taste is possible. […]It was unjustifiable and I regretted not intervening.
Bradwell said that he had been ‘quite drunk’ at the debate. However, he later admitted in an open letter that this did not hinder his ability to host the discussion.
He added: “I had 2 glasses of wine at dinner before the speech. Our speakers did as well. And I called attention to this fact prior to my speech to make it more interesting.”
“I didn’t feel impeded in my ability as a chairperson of the debate. My failure to do so was due to my inability to get up and stop someone before 400.
Zara Salaria, Union Equalities Officer, stated that Mr Graham-Dixon’s perception of art was unacceptable and horrifying.
Zara Salaria from Union Equalities stated that Mr Graham Dixon’s impression was unacceptable and horrifying.
Joel Rosen, the former president of the Cambridge Union tweeted that he was physically sick after seeing the events.
Graham-Dixon released another statement, saying: “The aim of my speech is to emphasize the absolutely evil nature Hitler and his régime.
“He caricatured Jewish and Black people, and gay people in horrible ways. As propaganda for his poisonous views, he curated a massive art exhibit called Degenerate Art.
“In my speech, I briefly caricatured him. Paraphrasing his crass statements and insensitive remarks about art and racism, This was what I hoped would be clear for all.
“My point was to show that bad ideas within the art sphere can have terrible consequences for the rest of our lives.
“Those who are familiar with my work know that I’ve always been against discrimination and racism.
“I apologize sincerely to everyone who found my debate tactics or use of Hitler’s language distressing. On reflection, I realize that many of the words and phrases I used are offensive, even in quotes.
“It was not my intent to disturb anybody. I merely wanted to persuade people that bad taste, bad morality often go together.”