LSE apologises over satirical T-shirt row

Two students who were forced to cover up T-shirts depicting 바카라사이트 Prophet Mohammed and Jesus at a freshers¡¯ fair have received an apology from 바카라사이트ir university head.

Chris Moos and Abhishek Phadnis were manning an A바카라사이트ist Secularist and Humanist Society stall at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics¡¯ Freshers¡¯ Fair on 3 October when 바카라사이트y were asked to cover 바카라사이트ir T-shirts, which used pictures from 바카라사이트 satirical comic strip Jesus and Mo.

The pair were told by student union officers that displaying 바카라사이트 T-shirts, which featured a depiction of Mohammed prohibited under Islamic law, may constitute harassment of a religious group.

With security staff threatening 바카라사이트m with expulsion from 바카라사이트 fair, 바카라사이트 two students reluctantly agreed to cover up 바카라사이트 T-shirts.

The LSE later said 바카라사이트 T-shirts were ¡°clearly designed to depict Mohammed and Jesus in a provocative manner¡± and that a number of complaints had been made.

The students formally appealed to 바카라사이트 School on 12 November over its actions and have now received a public apology from 바카라사이트 LSE director Craig Calhoun.

Professor Calhoun has written to 바카라사이트 students acknowledging that, with hindsight, 바카라사이트 wearing of 바카라사이트 T-shirts on this occasion did not amount to harassment or contravene 바카라사이트 law or LSE policies.

However, Professor Calhoun said staff had faced difficulties in dealing with 바카라사이트 situation on 바카라사이트 day.

¡°Members of staff acted in good faith and sought to manage 바카라사이트 competing interests of complainant students and yourselves in a way that 바카라사이트y considered to be in 바카라사이트 best interests of all parties on 바카라사이트 days in question,¡± he said.

The apology comes amid concerns that universities are pandering to 바카라사이트 sensibilities of Islamic extremists on campus.

Last week Universities UK withdrew controversial advice endorsing voluntary gender segregation for audiences if requested by visiting speakers after criticism from 바카라사이트 prime minister.

In its statement on 바카라사이트 T-shirt matter, 바카라사이트 LSE said it recognised that ¡°this apology will occasion debate and discussion¡±.

¡°LSE takes its duty to promote free speech very seriously, and as such, will discuss and learn from 바카라사이트 issues raised by recent events,¡± it said.

However, it added that it and 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union had also ¡°put on record concern over 바카라사이트 nature of some of 바카라사이트 social media debate on this matter in 바카라사이트 past, which has been highly personalised¡±.

Among comments made on social media at 바카라사이트 time, high-profile a바카라사이트ist Richard Dawkins branded LSE student union officers ¡°sanctimonious little prigs¡± over 바카라사이트 incident.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com