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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/may/01/exeter-university-expels-students-over-racism-row
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Exeter University expels students over racism row | Exeter University expels students over racism row |
| (3 months later) | |
| Several students at the University of Exeter have been expelled following allegations of racism, sexism and homophobia, amid growing anger over discrimination on higher education campuses. | Several students at the University of Exeter have been expelled following allegations of racism, sexism and homophobia, amid growing anger over discrimination on higher education campuses. |
| The students were sanctioned over a series of comments made on a WhatsApp group, including racial epithets and messages such as: “If you ain’t English, go home,” “bomb the mosques” and “we need a race war”, according to screengrabs posted online by a fellow student, Arsalan Motavali. | The students were sanctioned over a series of comments made on a WhatsApp group, including racial epithets and messages such as: “If you ain’t English, go home,” “bomb the mosques” and “we need a race war”, according to screengrabs posted online by a fellow student, Arsalan Motavali. |
| We want to hear from students about how widespread an issue this is. Have you experience racism in a society or group? Have you reported it and felt like you weren’t listened to? | We want to hear from students about how widespread an issue this is. Have you experience racism in a society or group? Have you reported it and felt like you weren’t listened to? |
| Share your experiences with us in this form. | Share your experiences with us in this form. |
| There have been increasingly vociferous calls for racism to be tackled in UK universities and Motavali said he had been moved to act after reading about allegations at another institution. | There have been increasingly vociferous calls for racism to be tackled in UK universities and Motavali said he had been moved to act after reading about allegations at another institution. |
| He said he created the “Dodgy Blokes Soc” WhatsApp group last summer for use by a small group of students attached to the Bracton Law Society – the largest student society at Exeter. But its content became “increasingly racist and deplorable” over time and he began to document the worst examples. | He said he created the “Dodgy Blokes Soc” WhatsApp group last summer for use by a small group of students attached to the Bracton Law Society – the largest student society at Exeter. But its content became “increasingly racist and deplorable” over time and he began to document the worst examples. |
| Among them, he said, were cases in which students backed a policy of racial discrimination and joked about buying slaves from African countries, as well as about gang rape. | Among them, he said, were cases in which students backed a policy of racial discrimination and joked about buying slaves from African countries, as well as about gang rape. |
| Besides the university’s investigation, the revelations prompted an anti-racism rally, at which students expressed their concerns about the “recent vile racist and misogynistic comments” and the “systemic issues” behind them. | Besides the university’s investigation, the revelations prompted an anti-racism rally, at which students expressed their concerns about the “recent vile racist and misogynistic comments” and the “systemic issues” behind them. |
| Motavali and two fellow anti-racist activists at the University of Exeter, Chris Omanyondo and Roman Ibra, told the Guardian: “These incidents are happening all the time but they are not all visible. There will be other group chats and other incidents of intimidation but we will not always see the prejudice.” | Motavali and two fellow anti-racist activists at the University of Exeter, Chris Omanyondo and Roman Ibra, told the Guardian: “These incidents are happening all the time but they are not all visible. There will be other group chats and other incidents of intimidation but we will not always see the prejudice.” |
| There have been past incidents at that institution and students have highlighted others on campuses across the country, including a slave auction that was advertised at Loughborough University and racial abuse written on bananas belonging to a black student at the University of Warwick. | There have been past incidents at that institution and students have highlighted others on campuses across the country, including a slave auction that was advertised at Loughborough University and racial abuse written on bananas belonging to a black student at the University of Warwick. |
| Last week, a University of Oxford student, Benedict Aldous, was selected for the boat race even though he was banned from social events at his college for wearing a Ku Klux Klan costume to a party. Aldous said he had meant no offence by wearing the costume. He said: “It was meant as a comment to Donald Trump’s possible connections to KKK members. I did not intend to offend anyone and removed the costume within two minutes of arriving.” | Last week, a University of Oxford student, Benedict Aldous, was selected for the boat race even though he was banned from social events at his college for wearing a Ku Klux Klan costume to a party. Aldous said he had meant no offence by wearing the costume. He said: “It was meant as a comment to Donald Trump’s possible connections to KKK members. I did not intend to offend anyone and removed the costume within two minutes of arriving.” |
| On Tuesday, a University of Exeter spokesman said: “Following reports of allegations involving a small group of students, the university launched a major investigation, in conjunction with the students’ guild. This investigation has now concluded and the outcomes have included expulsions, suspensions and other significant sanctions. These outcomes are subject to appeal.” | On Tuesday, a University of Exeter spokesman said: “Following reports of allegations involving a small group of students, the university launched a major investigation, in conjunction with the students’ guild. This investigation has now concluded and the outcomes have included expulsions, suspensions and other significant sanctions. These outcomes are subject to appeal.” |
| He said the institution was not willing to tolerate “any form of racist, sexist or bigoted behaviour and is committed to eradicating any instances of discrimination and harassment that may arise”. | He said the institution was not willing to tolerate “any form of racist, sexist or bigoted behaviour and is committed to eradicating any instances of discrimination and harassment that may arise”. |
| It was reported that five students were initially suspended from the university over the incident but Exeter refused to say how many had been expelled, suspended or subject to another form of sanction. Nor would it say whether any had escaped sanction altogether. | It was reported that five students were initially suspended from the university over the incident but Exeter refused to say how many had been expelled, suspended or subject to another form of sanction. Nor would it say whether any had escaped sanction altogether. |
| Its statement added: “The university has established a new provost commission, which has a broad remit to recommend and implement new approaches, initiatives, programmes and policies which will ensure we work continually towards an open, diverse and safe university community for all our students, staff and visitors, under the banner of “We are all Exeter”. It will seek to eradicate racism and all forms of harassment and discrimination from our campuses.” | Its statement added: “The university has established a new provost commission, which has a broad remit to recommend and implement new approaches, initiatives, programmes and policies which will ensure we work continually towards an open, diverse and safe university community for all our students, staff and visitors, under the banner of “We are all Exeter”. It will seek to eradicate racism and all forms of harassment and discrimination from our campuses.” |
| When news of the incident first broke, the university said the police had been informed. Devon and Cornwall police said at the time that officers were aware of the allegations and were liaising with the university. The force was unable to say on Tuesday evening what action, if any, it had taken since. | When news of the incident first broke, the university said the police had been informed. Devon and Cornwall police said at the time that officers were aware of the allegations and were liaising with the university. The force was unable to say on Tuesday evening what action, if any, it had taken since. |
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