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Oxford academic claims Trump protest led to 'excommunication' Oxford academic claims Trump protest led to 'excommunication'
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The University of Oxford is to investigate claims that it tried to “excommunicate” a leading politics academic after he resigned over a key patron’s support for Donald Trump’s inauguration.The University of Oxford is to investigate claims that it tried to “excommunicate” a leading politics academic after he resigned over a key patron’s support for Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Prof Bo Rothstein was the Blavatnik chair of government and public policy – a post named after Leonard Blavatnik, the Ukrainian-born billionaire who gave £75m to the university to set up the Blavatnik school of government.Prof Bo Rothstein was the Blavatnik chair of government and public policy – a post named after Leonard Blavatnik, the Ukrainian-born billionaire who gave £75m to the university to set up the Blavatnik school of government.
He resigned in August after claiming Blavatnik’s donation of $1m to Trump’s inauguration committee made his position untenable.He resigned in August after claiming Blavatnik’s donation of $1m to Trump’s inauguration committee made his position untenable.
After his criticism, Rothstein said the school insisted he resign immediately rather than serve out the usual notice period of a full academic term.After his criticism, Rothstein said the school insisted he resign immediately rather than serve out the usual notice period of a full academic term.
In a letter sent to Oxford’s vice-chancellor, Louise Richardson, early this month, Rothstein complained that he was banned from the school and contact with his students, in breach of his academic freedom.In a letter sent to Oxford’s vice-chancellor, Louise Richardson, early this month, Rothstein complained that he was banned from the school and contact with his students, in breach of his academic freedom.
In the letter, shared with the Guardian, Rothstein says: “This policy of excommunication stands in conflict with the principles of academic freedom and freedom of expression.In the letter, shared with the Guardian, Rothstein says: “This policy of excommunication stands in conflict with the principles of academic freedom and freedom of expression.
“According to these principles, I have the right to resign and also have the right to state my reasons for resigning to whomever I want without being banned from my workplace.”“According to these principles, I have the right to resign and also have the right to state my reasons for resigning to whomever I want without being banned from my workplace.”
It concluded: “I cannot imagine that the University of Oxford wants to be known as a place where the prize for criticising one of the major donors to the university is excommunication.”It concluded: “I cannot imagine that the University of Oxford wants to be known as a place where the prize for criticising one of the major donors to the university is excommunication.”
In a response sent last week, Richardson said she had asked her chief of staff to investigate the matter. She added: “Academic freedom and freedom of speech are two principles which sit at the heart of this university.”In a response sent last week, Richardson said she had asked her chief of staff to investigate the matter. She added: “Academic freedom and freedom of speech are two principles which sit at the heart of this university.”
Rothstein said he was told he was banned from the school with immediate effect because his decision to resign over Blavatnik’s support for Trump “had created much animosity among staff and faculty”. Rothstein told the Guardian he welcomed Richardson’s response, but he added: “My experience from other people in her position in matters like this is not, shall we say, encouraging.”
Rothstein confirmed that two of his former colleagues had expressed “much anger” at his resignation. But six other faculty members said they respected his decision, he told Richardson. In his letter to her, Rothstein said he was told he was banned from the school with immediate effect because his decision to resign “had created much animosity among staff and faculty”.
He confirmed that two of his former colleagues had expressed “much anger” at his resignation. But six other faculty members said they respected his decision, he told Richardson.
He accused the school of behaving like a business rather than an academic institution and setting a bad example to students. He also said the school had missed an opportunity to uphold the primacy of academic freedom.He accused the school of behaving like a business rather than an academic institution and setting a bad example to students. He also said the school had missed an opportunity to uphold the primacy of academic freedom.
His letter says: “I think the leadership of the school should have used this situation as a teaching moment for faculty, staff and students to educate them that in academia we do not expel people with whom we disagree … The way this has been handled may be typical for a private business organisation but the idea of academic freedom speaks another language.”His letter says: “I think the leadership of the school should have used this situation as a teaching moment for faculty, staff and students to educate them that in academia we do not expel people with whom we disagree … The way this has been handled may be typical for a private business organisation but the idea of academic freedom speaks another language.”
At the time of Rothstein’s resignation the university said it could not understand his decision because Blavatnik’s donation to Trump’s inauguration was unconnected to the Blavatnik school of government.At the time of Rothstein’s resignation the university said it could not understand his decision because Blavatnik’s donation to Trump’s inauguration was unconnected to the Blavatnik school of government.
A spokesman for Blavatnik’s company, Access Industries, confirmed that it made a $1m (£757,000) donation to Trump’s inauguration committee, but denied it was a major supporter of Trump.A spokesman for Blavatnik’s company, Access Industries, confirmed that it made a $1m (£757,000) donation to Trump’s inauguration committee, but denied it was a major supporter of Trump.
The University of Oxford has yet to expand on Richardson’s response to Rothstein.The University of Oxford has yet to expand on Richardson’s response to Rothstein.