University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh has faced allegations of classism and anti-Scottish sentiment in recent weeks.
These allegations arose after the Edinburgh Tab posted a TikTok asking students what they were wearing.
However, one person commented on the video saying there was, “not a scot in sight”, to which the Edinburgh Tab responded, “as god intended”.
The University of Edinburgh has since warned students to avoid being “snobs” and to refrain from ridiculing peers from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
The University also acknowledged that “class-related prejudice” was a problem on its campus.
Following these events, the Scottish Social Mobility Society was created to support working-class Scottish students who feel alienated at the university.
University of Durham
A debate held by the University of Durham’s debating society resulted in protests and a significant police presence.
On November 8, a debate titled “This House Believes Palestinian Leadership Is the Biggest Barrier to Peace” faced protests outside the venue.
Durham Students for Palestine accused the society of framing the debate “one way“, saying if the debate was called, “This House Believes Israeli Leadership is the Greatest Barrier to Peace” students would be called antisemitic.
Protesters also condemned the lack of Palestinians included in the debate.
During a standoff between protesters and the police, one protestor was arrested on the steps of the debating building.
Since the debate, protestors labelled the University a “classist and racist” institution.
In a statement, the University of Durham said, “Durham University is committed to upholding freedom of speech within the law and the right to lawful protest”.
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick’s Students’ Union has faced accusations of being “broken” after a motion to disband the University’s Conservative Association was “cancelled“.
This came after allegations of the University of Warwick Conservative Association “singing and dancing to a Nazi marching song” at a chairman’s dinner.
An independent investigation concluded that there was not a cultural issue within the association, but rather, the issue was with actions undertaken by individuals in the society.
Following the investigation, the Students’ Union imposed diversity training measures upon the Conservative Association.
Unhappy with the decision, more than 100 clubs and societies are currently boycotting the Societies Assembly within the Students’ Union.
