Event Start Date: 07 March 2024 17:00 - 18:30

Location: Amersi Room, Brasenose College

How do we ensure conversations on ‘difficult’ issues take place in a respectful and courteous manner?

Five colleges (Balliol, Mansfield, Regent’s Park, Somerville and Worcester) will seek to answer that question through a series of debates whose challenging subject matter will illustrate the exercise of freedom of speech in conjunction with respectful discourse.

The first debate, held at Brasenose College on March 7th 2024, will consider the topic of assisted dying. Chaired by John Bowers KC, the Principal of Brasenose College, the event will feature among other guests Lord Falconer, the former Lord Chancellor, and Lady Finlay of Llandaff, a Professor of Palliative Medicine. The debate will also be conducted with reference to a framework of ‘tips’ to promote free speech developed by Oxford students and academics.

Please note: this event is open to all University of Oxford members. The main entrance to Brasenose is via the Porters’ Lodge on Radcliffe Square.

Register to Attend

Further reading?

Somerville Alumni Carol Concert

Author Name
Monday 8th December 2025
Learn More
Somerville Alumni Carol Concert

Monica Fooks Memorial Lecture 2025: Building Mental Health Systems for Generation Alpha with Professor Mina Fazel

Author Name
04 November 2025
Learn More
Monica Fooks Memorial Lecture 2025: Building Mental Health Systems for Generation Alpha with Professor Mina Fazel

The Shadow Scholars: A Screening for Black History Month

Author Name
23rd October 2025
Learn More
The Shadow Scholars: A Screening for Black History Month