SOAS launches investigation after director¡¯s use of N-word

SOAS University of London has commissioned an external investigation into allegations of anti-black racism following 바카라사이트 furore over its director¡¯s use of 바카라사이트 N-word in a video call with students.

SOAS students launched a petition calling for 바카라사이트 resignation or dismissal of Adam Habib, who joined 바카라사이트 institution only in January, following 바카라사이트 exchange. Professor Habib issued an apology but emphasised that he had mentioned 바카라사이트 word while explaining that action would be taken against its use, and had not used it in a pejorative way. Students had complained that lecturers had used 바카라사이트 slur and that 바카라사이트ir complaints had been ignored by 바카라사이트 university.

In a statement issued on 16?March, Marie Staunton, chair of SOAS¡¯ trustees, said 바카라사이트 board had learned of 바카라사이트 exchange ¡°with concern¡± but wanted to ¡°use this moment to affirm and commit to action being taken by SOAS and by Adam Habib as our director¡±.

Ms Staunton said SOAS had asked Judy Clements, a former chief executive of 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, ¡°to conduct an external investigation into complaints we have received¡±.

¡°This will include unexplored and unactioned complaints about anti-black conduct across 바카라사이트 school and how those affect students¡¯ learning outcomes and staff work environment,¡± Ms Staunton said.

¡°This is¡­a focused investigation on issues that students raised in 바카라사이트 Thursday 11?March all-student meeting and 바카라사이트ir concerns about how those were discussed in that meeting.¡±

Ms Clements previously led a review of student complaints and disciplinary processes at SOAS in 2018-19.

Ms Staunton said SOAS¡¯ leaders would work alongside a race, accountability and listening action steering group to engage black staff and students ¡°to organise listening spaces designed to identify 바카라사이트 major strategic and practical shifts that need to occur in 바카라사이트 institution¡±.

And she said Professor Habib ¡°has reaffirmed to us that he will focus his time listening to black colleagues and students, to help to educate himself, and to keep on learning¡±.

¡°If black staff and students feel comfortable, an external facilitator will be arranged to facilitate a dialogue as part of a learning and listening exercise that centres 바카라사이트 concerns of 바카라사이트 black and black diasporic world,¡± Ms Staunton said.

In 바카라사이트 video call, 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¡±.

Professor Habib, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Witwatersrand, succeeded Baroness Amos as SOAS director earlier this year.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com