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Oxford University's cultural elitism has been exposed by this student campaign Oxford University's cultural elitism has been exposed by this student campaign
(35 minutes later)
There is a rich cultural history of white people jumping on bandwagons and spoiling things – tobacco, R&B, Brixton – and now they've done it to Oxford's diversity movement. Inspired by a similar effort at Harvard, a viral campaign called I, too, am Oxford surfaced last week highlighting the prejudices students from ethnic minority backgrounds experience at the university. It featured pictures of students holding up placards that read "No, I'm not on a scholarship from Africa" and "My voice is not the voice of all black people"; even one saying "I do not sell cocaine".There is a rich cultural history of white people jumping on bandwagons and spoiling things – tobacco, R&B, Brixton – and now they've done it to Oxford's diversity movement. Inspired by a similar effort at Harvard, a viral campaign called I, too, am Oxford surfaced last week highlighting the prejudices students from ethnic minority backgrounds experience at the university. It featured pictures of students holding up placards that read "No, I'm not on a scholarship from Africa" and "My voice is not the voice of all black people"; even one saying "I do not sell cocaine".
It was a little safe, perhaps, given that the crushing weight of racism in Oxford (and Cambridge, for that matter) happens at an institutional level, rather than an individual one. But whatever effect it might have had on a wider subconscious, or on students more usually put off by its undeniably stunted social spectrum, was undermined when, three days later, a rival campaign appeared. This time it was called We are all Oxford and it starred, essentially, all the people who might be your reason for not applying in the first place should you be of an ethnic minority or from a disadvantaged background. It was a little safe, perhaps, given that the crushing weight of racism in Oxford (and Cambridge, for that matter) happens at an institutional level, rather than an individual one. But whatever effect it might have had on a wider subconscious, or on students more usually put off by its undeniably stunted social spectrum, was undermined when, three days later, a rival campaign appeared. This time it was called We are all Oxford, and it starred, essentially, all the people who might be your reason for not applying in the first place should you be of an ethnic minority or from a disadvantaged background.
It's your classic white-person landgrab motivated by a well-meaning but nonetheless blinkered "we're all in this together" feeling among those near the top of the tree. Or nearer the top than the bottom, at least. And it effectively denies the legitimacy of the minority students' grievances. Far be it from me to start talking about checking privileges, but this strikes me as part of the reason why Oxford can never truly be rehabilitated. Just as David Cameron's late modernising side has been stamped down by the duffers, the "what about me" brigade and the bigots who refuse to budge, so Oxford's attempts to increase its racial profile will always be hijacked by those who claim it as their own struggle. It's your classic white-person landgrab motivated by a well-meaning but nonetheless blinkered "we're all in this together" feeling among those near the top of the tree. Or nearer the top than the bottom, at least. And it effectively denies the legitimacy of the minority students' grievances. Far be it from me to start talking about checking privileges, but this strikes me as part of the reason why Oxford can never truly be rehabilitated. Just as David Cameron's late modernising side has been stamped down by the duffers, the "what about me" brigade, and the bigots who refuse to budge, so Oxford's attempts to increase its racial profile will always be hijacked by those who claim it as their own struggle.
Two girls, both white, hold a "We are from state schools" sign in the riposte. By my reckoning, that doesn't make you a minority anywhere else but Oxbridge. Three more white girls celebrate funding for students from low-income households. Then there's a Romanian man in there too. Another guy is psyched about the fact he can wear traditional Nigerian dress to formal dinners, which seems a little like the thin end of the wedge given that he is probably only one of about three people doing that. Two girls, both white, hold a "We are from state schools" sign in the riposte. By my reckoning that doesn't make you a minority anywhere else but Oxbridge. Three more white girls celebrate funding for students from low-income households. Then there's a Romanian man in there too. Another guy is psyched about the fact he can wear traditional Nigerian dress to formal dinners, which seems a little like the thin end of the wedge, given that he is probably only one of about three people doing that.
They've all missed the point entirely, even the black students professing never to have been treated differently there. Oxford, like so many grindingly ancient institutions, is racist. It's overstocked with white people, rich people and male people, even if you're able to have a positive experience or a very nice time there during your day-to-day student existence. They've all missed the point entirely, even the black students professing never to have been treated differently there. Oxford, like so many grindingly ancient institutions, is racist. It's overstocked with white people, rich people and male people, even if you're able to have a positive experience or a very nice time there during your day to day student existence.
I went to a state school, and I went to Cambridge. I loved it. When I applied, the prospectus seemed to think diversity meant "people with lots of piercings", so things are looking up since then. But these universities are bubbles, isolated from reality, in their own microcosm that reflects very little of the society beyond. Even political issues are skewed so that simply going to a state school seems on a par with being the first in your family to go to university, being from a low income household or a deprived urban area. There is sincerity in all outreach efforts, of course, but there's also a hefty dose of #middleclassproblems. A white guy with dreadlocks telling you it's about your brain, not your background doesn't necessarily hit home to the right quarters. I went to a state school, and I went to Cambridge. I loved it. When I applied, the prospectus seemed to think diversity meant "people with lots of piercings", so things are looking up since then. But these universities are bubbles, isolated from reality, in their own microcosm that reflects very little of the society beyond. Even political issues are skewed so that simply going to a state school seems on a par with being the first in your family to go to university, being from a low-income household or a deprived urban area. There is sincerity in all outreach efforts, of course, but there's also a hefty dose of #middleclassproblems. A white guy with dreadlocks telling you it's about your brain, not your background, doesn't necessarily hit home in the right quarters.
One of the greatest barriers to opening up Oxford's hallowed halls to all the students with the ability to work within them is perception. Students from low income households and ethnic minorities don't feel like they are part of the club. So if starting a conversation on little whiteboards helps them see another side, then great. But it needs to feel genuine and specific rather than a load of other people rushing in and saying "Oh, me too!". One of the greatest barriers to opening up Oxford's hallowed halls to all the students with the ability to work within them is perception. Students from low-income households and ethnic minorities don't feel like they are part of the club. So if starting a conversation on little whiteboards helps them see another side, then great. But it needs to feel genuine and specific rather than a load of other people rushing in and saying "Oh, me too!".