Oxford University boss: It’s not my job to stop homophobic views
The head of the University of Oxford has stunned students by insisting it is not her job to stop homophobia within the university.
The shocking comments come from Professor Louise Richardson, the vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford and one of the most respected university bosses in the country.
Professor Richardson was speaking in London at the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit when she made the comments.
According to the BBC, she said: āIāve had many conversations with students who say they donāt feel comfortable because their professor has expressed views against homosexuality.
āThey donāt feel comfortable being in class with someone with those views.
āAnd I say, āIām sorry, but my job isnāt to make you feel comfortable. Education is not about being comfortable. Iām interested in making you uncomfortableā.
āIf you donāt like his views, you challenge them, engage with them, and figure how a smart person can have views like that.
āWork out how you can persuade him to change his mind. It is difficult, but it is absolutely what we have to do.ā
Professor Richardson did not say if she similarly believes the onus is on black students to āproveā to racist professors that they are wrong.
The comments have been met with condemnation from the university student unionās LGBTQ Campaign, which urged her to rethink her statement.
The group warned that her stance could be a violation of the Equality Act, as ātutors are directly in charge of admissions and any that harbour homophobic beliefs could be resistant to admitting LGBTQ+ studentsā.
A statement said: āThe Oxford SU LGBTQ+ Campaign is angered and dismayed by Vice-Chancellor Richardsonās comments.
āThese appear to indicate support for tutors expressing homophobic views to their students, as professor Richardson believes that students do not have a right to be offended and must take on the responsibility of challenging their tutors on such matters.
āWhilst we recognise that individuals are entitled to personal views and opinions, we see no way in which these are relevant to an academic context, and believe that the expression of such views has detrimental effects which go far beyond making students feel āuncomfortableā.
āThe Universityās Equality Policy states that it will comply with the Equality Act 2010, which explicitly marks gender, sex and sexual orientation as protected characteristics.
āIn addition to this, the Policy states that āall academic staff should promote an inclusive research and learning environmentā and that the University will āseek to embed equality in all its activitiesā, which cannot be the case if homophobic views are rendered acceptable.
āIn expecting students to challenge and engage with views against homosexuality in a tutorial context, the Vice-Chancellor inhibits their ability and right to engage undisturbed with the academic matters which should be at the heart of a class.
āThis reinforces the idea that LGBTQ+ students are only welcome in academia should they express their identities quietly, and fosters a climate where LGBTQ+ individuals are academically disadvantaged.ā
It adds: āIndicating that homophobia can be acceptable on such a public platform spreads the message that Oxford is a place where LGBTQ+ students are not valued, and are expected to maintain academic excellence whilst navigating the additional challenge of defending their identities.
āWe are dismayed that the Vice-Chancellor has been approached by students seeking help, only to dismiss their concerns as being overly sensitive.
āThis is hardly the conduct one would expect in an individual tasked with ensuring that all members of this University are able to thrive.
āThese attitudes are a failure to recognise the very real impact of homophobic views on both academic success and personal well being, and we hope that she, and others, will consider the issue with more nuance in future.ā
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