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This is always a controversial and inflammatory issue, which repays careful, ethical and strategic thinking. Depending on the details of the case, there are competing views over the efficacy of bans; whether it is best to limit exposure to certain ideas or ideologies, or whether this risks driving problems underground, winning them sympathy, or alienating the larger community affected.
Moreover, a ban is like a 'blocked sender' list - a hefty tool but limited compared to the endless inventiveness of spammers or virus creators. Programmes which encourage critical thinking and the ability to analyse and deconstruct ideas are more flexible and resilient, like updatable anti-virus software. It can ultimately be more effective to encourage discussion and debate, so long as the material, organisation or individual is not too destructive for this to be wise.
You might therefore want to assess whether or not the damage that could be done by the organisation warrants an outright ban, taking into account university policy, the wider legal context, and any other precedents.
First of all, keep up to date on current legislation about which organisations are banned by law.
Other 'bans' can be implemented by organisations such as the National Union of Students, which has for example banned Hizb ut-Tahrir. Some organisations that have been banned have now taken to using front names or individuals to gain a presence on campuses. For that reason, if in doubt it is reasonable to make enquiries of any organisation that is seeking to hold meetings on campuses; so that students are not put at risk.
Some useful questions to ask:
- What are the aims and objectives of the organisation?
- What principal activities does it carry out?
- Does it have an official existence (is it a registered charity, non-profit-making company, official student organisation, etc.)?
- Does it have any promotional literature giving more information about its aims, objectives, activities?
- Who are the named people responsible for this organisation?
If you have useful contacts with reliable information, access this before reaching a decision about how to respond. It can be difficult for an outsider to assess an individual or an organisation.
If you are in a role in which you are authorised to institute a ban, one wise strategy is to create a policy rather than to react case-by-case to different organisations. Unless your reactions are completely consistent, that risks being perceived as arbitrary or even discriminatory.