Oldest student debate club disinvites Richard Dawkins to "comfort" its members

Richard Dawkins has been disinvited by a student group which runs the oldest debate club in the world. This is according to Trinity College Dublin’s College Historical Society, which proclaims itself “the world’s oldest undergraduate society” and “the model for debating societies” at Oxford, Cambridge and Yale.

According to The College Fix, the news of the disinvitation came from the University paper,  which states the society’s auditor, Brid O’Donnell, announced on her personal Instagram page that “The Hist” was disinviting the militant atheist and famed author of “The Selfish Gene” because “we value our members comfort [sic] above all else.”

O’Donnell’s now private Instagram post explained that her predecessor had invited Dawkins and “I followed up the invitation with limited knowledge” of the scientist’s views, which were not fully fleshed out on “his Wikipedia page.” He was scheduled to speak early next year.

Her full statement is as follows, "I was not previously aware of the harmful statements made by Richard Dawkins. The invitation was issued in advance of this committee’s tenure, and we are deeply grateful to the members and students who brought this to our attention."

O'Donnell concluded, "The comfort of our membership is paramount, and we will not be proceeding with Professor Dawkins address. I apologize for any distress caused by this announcement, and the Hist will continue to listen and adapt to the needs and comfort of students."

In the place for Dawkins, the club will be inviting “Ireland’s preeminent Black Studies advocate and hieroglyphics expert Ebun Joseph, who will be taking part in a panel titled ‘Racism in Irish Education.'”