BREAKING: Racist incident reported in Warwick halls of residence
The University is investigating a racist incident in a Warwick halls of residence, after a post was made on Twitter reporting the event.
The tweet in question is from first-year student Faramade Ifaturoti, who lives in Rootes, and shows a bunch of bananas with racial slurs written onto them.
The student writes alongside it: “Just entered the kitchen and look at what one of my flatmates has done. I am extremely disgusted.”
The post is being widely shared, with over 5000 likes and 2000 retweets.
Many twitter users have started using the hashtag #WeStandWithFara to show their solidarity.
The original post. Photo: @Faramade_ / Twitter
This has prompted the University to reply to the student on Twitter saying they are investigating the incident.
The student responded with her disappointment that “it took a Twitter escalation” for the University to respond.
Peter Dunn, director of press and policy for the University, has since commented: “A senior member of the University’s Residential Life Team is in direct contact with the student concerned and the student has been offered alternative accommodation in a number of other locations (including accommodation that is actually cheaper than their current location) on campus while the matter is being investigated.”
The Students’ Union has also released a response, stating: “Warwick SU has a zero-tolerance policy on racist behaviour. We unequivocally condemn this shocking and disgusting act, which should clearly have no place in either our University or society at large.
“We have reached out to the student affected by this episode and have contacted the University to offer further support. Should a formal complaint be raised regarding a specific individual’s conduct, the SU will of course treat it as a matter for urgent disciplinary action.”
The Warwick Accomodation handbook has absolutely nothing regarding racism, yet the institution will happily shout about diversity and champion signing the Race Equality Charter. We deserve zero tolerance to racism on our campus.
Warwick Anti-Racism Society
Warwick Anti-Racism Society (WARSOC) have also commented: “So disgusted to see in our very own University halls such rampant and abusive racism.
“The Warwick Accomodation handbook has absolutely nothing regarding racism, yet the institution will happily shout about diversity and champion signing the Race Equality Charter.”
They finished: “We deserve zero tolerance to racism on our campus.”
WARSOC are also providing support to the student at this current time, and have begun a petition to the University regarding how they deal with racism.
In regard to the statement Mems Ayinla, outgoing president of WARSOC commented: “There are more black men in prisons than in Russell group Universities. Students of colour are still less likely to get a grad job compared to their white counterparts. If the university is so committed to dismantling racism why are these issues not prioritised?
“We want a liberated curriculum, better representation and a 0 tolerance policy when it comes to discrimination.”
She ended by stating: “After the events of today, we implore you to sign our petition in solidarity.”
There are more black men in prisons than in Russell group Universities. Students of colour are still less likely to get a grad job compared to their white counterparts. If the university is so committed to dismantling racism why are these issues not prioritised?
Mems Ayinla
The story has been picked up by a number of national publications, including the Independent and the Huffington Post. A BBC reporter has also caused a stir by misgendering the student while commenting on the incident, saying the bananas had been left “by one of his flatmates”, rather than the correct use of “her”.
This is not the first time the use of a racial slur has caused an incident at Warwick, with the ‘Warwick Best Snapchat’ page having to close in 2014 after a post included the N-word.
This post will be updated with more information.
Comments (9)
Warwick is an incredibly racist university. I also attended and have immense regrets about doing so. The university will be waiting for the story to be buried so they can go back to pretending to themselves that all of their students are treated equally when this is very far from the case.
I would advise other POC to give this university a very wide berth. The only people that they value are white, middle and upper-class students. POC read up on Dr Joy De Gruy as she provides very useful insights into why so many people seem to suffer from ‘fragility’ every time they have to address the institutional and structural racism inherent in their societies! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0gpbIeVJbc
What do you mean by “hallmarks of a hoax”? The derogatory terms which have been scribbled on the banana’s are not issues people of colour joke/lie about… They are racial slurs which should not be used at all. This is without a doubt a racist incident and it should be reported and dealt with immediately.
And to pick up on the other comment you posted, in this instance race does matter. The use of racial slurs towards a woman of COLOUR is essentially to do with her race – perhaps you should look at your own racial biases before implying someone of colour is willing to create a hoax about derogatory terms used to oppress people of colour. Just a small suggestion.
Why has this not been reported to the police? A crime has been alleged to have been committed, one that obviously causes distress not just to the accuser, but also to her flatmates, who will be under the shadow of suspicion and open to abuse. For their sake and for justice, it needs to be investigated. Reports suggest it has not been reported, which IMO highly suggest this is a very unpleasant act by a misguided accuser. If so, it is likely defamation and arguably, perverting the course of justice.
Check that spelling…
>white
Why does their race matter. Perhaps you should look at your own racial biases before judging others.
Given that Warwick is full of overprivileged privately educated white Oxbridge rejects who believe they are above all others because they will land that dream job as a slave in an IB, this doesn’t seem surprising.
A former student.
Surely that was an SU response, not a university response?
This has all the hallmarks of a hoax