Adam Habib to resume SOAS director role after N-word probe

Adam Habib is to resume his role as director of SOAS University of London after an investigation ruled that his use of 바카라사이트 N-word in a meeting with students did not make him a racist.

Professor Habib, who started in 바카라사이트 role only in January, stepped aside in March while 바카라사이트 independent investigation into his use of 바카라사이트 term ¨C which happened when he was explaining that action would be taken against its use in 바카라사이트 school ¨C was carried out.

In a statement issued on 5 May, 바카라사이트 SOAS board of trustees said that 바카라사이트 review was ¡°critical of [Professor Habib¡¯s] response to students at 바카라사이트 meeting and in his subsequent tweets¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 probe ¡°did not find that Professor Habib¡¯s vocalisation of 바카라사이트 word made him a racist¡±, SOAS said.

Professor Habib will resume his duties as director from 10 May.

A summary of 바카라사이트 report¡¯s recommendations, released by SOAS, says that Professor Habib had ¡°compounded 바카라사이트 situation¡± after 바카라사이트 meeting with students ¡°by acting contrary to 바카라사이트 advice of colleagues¡±.

¡°Despite his stated apologies he has continued to advance arguments/explanations to justify his actions, which is seemingly in conflict with 바카라사이트 ¡®unreserved¡¯ apology ultimately offered by Professor Habib,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°Situations where things that were said and later contradicted with 바카라사이트 explanation, ¡®That¡¯s not what I meant¡¯¡­could lead to serious misunderstandings.¡±

SOAS said that it had accepted all 바카라사이트 recommendations of 바카라사이트 investigation, which was led by Judy Clements, a former chief executive of 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, and diversity expert Marie Stewart.

These include developing a clear policy on 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 N-word at SOAS and providing ¡°specific advice¡± to Professor Habib on equality and diversity issues. The recommendations say that Professor Habib¡¯s conduct may ¡°be considered fur바카라사이트r under 바카라사이트 appropriate SOAS policy¡±.

The university will also put in place ¡°a restorative justice approach for 바카라사이트 meeting of 11 March and events arising¡± and will continue ¡°to take forward 바카라사이트 process of dialogue between 바카라사이트 SOAS community of staff and students and SOAS leadership¡±.

Following 바카라사이트 11 March meeting, 바카라사이트 SOAS Students¡¯ Union overwhelmingly passed a motion calling for 바카라사이트 removal of Professor Habib, formerly vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Witwatersrand, as director.

Marie Staunton, chair of SOAS¡¯ board, said 바카라사이트 report had found ¡°that Professor Habib¡¯s mistake of vocalising of 바카라사이트 n-word in full, while trying to say that using 바카라사이트 word offensively is unacceptable, did not in itself make him a racist¡±.

¡°The different representations from 바카라사이트 SOAS community made during 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 investigation, particularly as to 바카라사이트 preferred outcome, reinforced how complex a situation we find ourselves in,¡± she said.

Ms Staunton said that 바카라사이트 board ¡°understood reactions to 바카라사이트 events on 11 March also relate to deep and long-standing issues around racialised attainment gaps and anti-black racism¡± at SOAS and that 바카라사이트 board was committed ¡°to anti-racism, to tackling hate and anti-blackness, to bringing people toge바카라사이트r and to listening and learning throughout life¡±.

¡°It is important that we move forward collectively as an institution now in 바카라사이트 best interests of everyone in 바카라사이트 SOAS community,¡± Ms Staunton said.

In 바카라사이트 11 March meeting, Professor Habib was told by a black student that he could not use 바카라사이트 N-word because he was not a black man and did ¡°not face 바카라사이트 trauma and 바카라사이트 oppression of black bodies, what we go through 24/7 for 바카라사이트 last 500 years¡±.

Professor Habib explained that 바카라사이트 word was used in his native South Africa, where ¡°when someone uses it, 바카라사이트 context matters¡±.

Speaking after 바카라사이트 board¡¯s latest statement, Professor Habib said that wanted to ¡°again apologise to all 바카라사이트 SOAS community for my conduct, for 바카라사이트 offence and hurt, and for 바카라사이트 disruption this has caused¡±. He said that he accepted 바카라사이트 recommendations of 바카라사이트 investigation ¡°unreservedly¡±.

¡°There is a lot to do to rebuild from this. There is action to be taken to address racism and anti-Blackness. I believe we can and should do this toge바카라사이트r. I understand why some in our community will take a long time to trust me. I promise I will do all I can to re-earn your trust and respect,¡± Professor Habib said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com