Banned Nietzsche Club to Return to UCL

Source: Wikimedia Commons

REPORTS OF POSTERS AROUND THE UCL CAMPUS WITH THE PHRASE ‘EQUALITY IS A FALSE GOD’ SUGGEST AN INCOMING RESURGENCE OF THE INFAMOUS NIETZSCHE CLUB. 

Back in 2014, an uproar ignited after UCLU decided to ban the Nietzsche society from campus, which prompted many to claim that it was an infringement on freedom of speech. This played into the persistent narrative that student unions were damaging critical debate in exchange for creating ‘safe spaces’.

Whilst on the outside it seemed that the club was dedicated to the discussion of German Philosopher Frederich Nietzsche’s ideas and literature, an investigation by the union stated that ‘we believe the group to be fascist’. Further pointing out the danger of such an ideology on a university campus.

Howard Jacobson, the Man Booker Prize winner, wrote an article in The Independent criticising UCLU, stating that even if the group was fascist ‘then it makes an argument not for banning but for surveillance’.

The posters have the contextual backdrop of fragility both in the national and international political scene, with increased hate crimes in London since Brexit and the popularity of the often scandalous Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump.

However, repeated attempts to get in touch with the group in question by Pi News was met with silence and many of the posters appeared to have been taken down.

The ban in question lasted for two years, leaving the possibility for its return this year, but it is yet unclear if UCLU will allow the club back onto campus.