Sources also said that LawSoc was advised to hold a discussion instead, since even a legally sound screening was unlikely to be spared scrutiny and complaints could draw in students and faculty beyond those involved.
LawSoc had also weighed a private, closed-door screening but decided against it, even as many students maintained the screening was not illegal, since “a grey area is still risky.” The decision was described as a necessary compromise made after weighing legal risk, not a case of bowing to outside pressure.
LawSoc plans to consult the Student Council and other student bodies on a longer-term, public position on academic freedom. A planned poster-making session was also dropped to avoid provoking further scrutiny.
On September 19, in place of the screening, LawSoc held the first session of a new series, The Criminal Justice Conversations. The first conversation in the series was on UAPA: Bail & Beyond with Professor Radhika Chitkara followed by an open-house arts evening.