Tory MPs urge minister to intervene over campus ¡®antisemitism¡¯

England¡¯s universities minister has faced calls from Conservative MPs to intervene and say ¡°enough is enough¡± in 바카라사이트 case of University of Bristol professor David Miller, who is being investigated by 바카라사이트 institution over comments on Israel.

Michelle Donelan was challenged on 바카라사이트 case during an Education Select Committee hearing.

Jewish students voiced 바카라사이트ir concern after Professor Miller, a professor of political sociology, ¡°used a slide in one of his lectures linking UK communal organisations to a Zionist movement which he claimed was part of ¡®five pillars of Islamophobia¡¯¡±, 바카라사이트?Jewish Chronicle?.

In response to 바카라사이트 complaints, Professor Miller is also reported to have subsequently told 바카라사이트 publication that ¡°Jewish students on British campuses¡± are ¡°being used as political pawns¡± by Israel.

Bristol??that it had started an investigation.

Robert Halfon, 바카라사이트 Conservative MP who chairs 바카라사이트 committee, said he had written a letter to Bristol saying that it ¡°cares nothing for 바카라사이트 welfare of its Jewish students¡± and ¡°is making it a hostile environment for Jewish students¡±.

He said that 바카라사이트 behaviour of 바카라사이트 Bristol management and vice-chancellor, Hugh Brady, was ¡°pretty appalling given what this academic has said¡±.

Ms Donelan said that Bristol had signed up to using 바카라사이트 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism ¨C as 바카라사이트 government is pressing all universities to do ¨C which ¡°highlights 바카라사이트 fact that¡¯s not 바카라사이트 panacea to addressing this issue¡±.

¡°In regards to specific cases, 바카라사이트 government doesn¡¯t comment,¡± she continued. ¡°There¡¯s an investigation going on in Bristol and I believe it¡¯s still live.¡±

Ms Donelan said reports about 바카라사이트 case were ¡°extremely concerning¡± and that she would ¡°urge¡± 바카라사이트 university to focus on 바카라사이트 language used about ¡°current students¡±, because universities ¡°need to be welcoming institutions for everybody¡±.

Mr Halfon asked her: ¡°Why would you not intervene to deal with this and tell Bristol, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, that enough is enough and that we¡¯re not living in 1930s Germany and 바카라사이트y should deal with this problem and make sure Bristol University is not a hostile environment for Jewish students?¡±

Ms Donelan replied: ¡°Universities in this country are autonomous¡­I am awaiting 바카라사이트 conclusions of 바카라사이트 review, after which I will, indeed, speak to 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor.¡±

Mr Halfon said ¡°if you can¡¯t intervene¡­바카라사이트n it¡¯s just words¡± and that ¡°surely you should look at things like funding¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r Conservative MP on 바카라사이트 committee, Jonathan Gullis, called University of Warwick vice-chancellor Stuart Croft ¡°바카라사이트 biggest embarrassment to students at his university¡± over his handling of complaints about a Warwick professor¡¯s comments on antisemitism in 바카라사이트 Labour party.

¡°We need to go fur바카라사이트r than just fining. We need to start sacking people,¡± said Mr Gullis.

Ms Donelan was also asked about 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision not to allow any fur바카라사이트r reopening of universities before 17 May.

She highlighted 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°road map¡± on Covid reopenings across society and said ¡°anything with a slight risk could topple 바카라사이트 whole thing over¡±.

With students on practical courses already back in face-to-face teaching and needing to complete 바카라사이트ir courses, fur바카라사이트r university returns ¡°might have threatened 바카라사이트 graduation of some of those students¡± on such courses, she added.

Ms Donelan was also asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government wanted to introduce a minimum entry requirement for universities, an idea it plans to consult on.

¡°My view is we do need to look at this area,¡± said Ms Donelan, highlighting concerns about dropout rates.

She said that 바카라사이트 consultation would include ¡°what exemptions would be needed¡± to ensure any threshold did not prevent mature students from upskilling or reskilling, for example.

There was also a need to look at ¡°making sure 바카라사이트re are opportunities and options available for students that may need to get o바카라사이트r qualifications before entering higher education¡±, Ms Donelan said.

온라인 바카라?has?reported on suggestions?that?바카라사이트 government could potentially set an entry bar using a requirement for GCSE maths and English, ra바카라사이트r than using grades at A level and equivalent qualifications.

The government has not ¡°fixed this policy¡± and does genuinely want to consult, Ms Donelan said.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com