Breaking the seal on alleged racism at Warwick

My first day at Warwick, I walked around campus and there were a lot of white faces. It isn’t something that I was particularly concerned about, but it surprised me, considering the school I went to was predominantly asian and black. It wasn’t until someone called me a “Paki” in the Copper Rooms, after they spilled their drink on me, that I realised that university was going to be no different to where I grew up.

Ask any BAME (black, asian, or other ethnic minority) person and they will tell you that you quickly learn to grow thick skin. It was better to not talk about it. If you fought every battle, you wouldn’t have time to breathe.

However, if I walked in as a fresher now, with the knowledge that the warden who was responsible for my wellbeing was given the advice “to be watchful of Muslim students”, then I would be very uncomfortable. The revelation that the Prevent training meeting run for the Residential Life Team (RLT) by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, contained a clear attempt to racially profile a certain subsect of students is bordering on insidious. It is the news that we knew could be happening, but never wanted to read.

Ask any BAME (black, asian, or other ethnic minority) person and they will tell you that you quickly learn to grow thick skin

After months of investigating and trying to get to the bottom of the matter, various members of the university advised me not to continue pursuing something that was a matter of government, not university policy.

I was informally warned of a list of potentially ‘dangerous’ individuals on campus, which was enough to get me to drop it, even though this was never independently verified. I am not ashamed to say I was scared and I stopped. I came here to learn, not to be vilified and threatened.

I was informally warned of a list of potentially ‘dangerous’ individuals on campus

However, I am glad that this story is finally out there. I am not Muslim, but I do have a beard. Who knows whether if I was back in Bluebell and writing this that I wouldn’t be under the supervision of those that are required by law to protect me? The same law that seems to want to watch me closer than my white counterparts as part of the Prevent strategy? How much more evidence do you need before you realise how racist and regressive this policy is?

I contacted Stuart Croft directly about the incident that happened before he became vice-chancellor. Unsurprisingly, deputy registrar Sharon Tuersley, on behalf of Mr Croft, has categorically denied that there was any racial profiling in this training. However, she did say that there has been an effort made after the Staff Assembly vote in the Spring to look again at the Prevent policy and tackle any concerns.

How much more evidence do you need before you realise how racist and regressive this policy is?

In his recent blog on the topic, he said: “At Warwick we have always had a strong ethos on safeguarding with proactive teams and individuals providing frontline support to students such as personal tutors, student support, and our residential life team. Our training focus will continue to be on those frontline staff (and limited to them), to help them support our students.”

I am not going to hold Mr Croft to account for an incident before his tenure, but I will say with utmost severity: there are students on this campus, many that you know, walking in halls and in study spaces, that feel unsafe at this university.

“Our training focus will continue to be on those frontline staff (and limited to them), to help them support our students.”

Ultimately, the figures speak for themselves. The level of BAME academics at Warwick is below the national average; BAME students are less likely to get a first; and the gap between ethnic minority and white students seems to be increasing.

Moreover, the emergence of an allegedly racist senior manager in the Estates department, as covered by the Boar this year, further highlights how far up the chain this goes. Nevertheless, Warwick Anti-Racism society have been hugely influential with their work this year. Had it not been for an unnecessary piece of bureaucracy and miscommunication in regards to the delivery of their petition, they would be sitting at the table now with Mr. Croft. The Boar has helped them to expedite this process and we are on the way to reaching a resolution.

The level of BAME academics at Warwick is below the national average; BAME students are less likely to get a first; and the gap between ethnic minority and white students seems to be increasing

Mems Ayinla, co-president this year, had this to say: “Racism in universities is so prevalent that its doesn’t surprise me any more. It is systematic and the University have shown that by not taking our petition seriously. From the curriculum, to representation in departments, there is a long way to go.”

If these were isolated incidents, then it would be easier to stomach. But the problem is that we are starting to see a pattern. Alleged racism in senior management, problems with the training of the controversial Prevent strategy and the lacklustre response to a genuine student in halls paints a sorry picture.

If these were isolated incidents, then it would be easier to stomach. But the problem is that we are starting to see a pattern

We just don’t feel safe anymore, Mr Croft. I implore you to be bold and take a stand against these injustices – break the mould and others will follow. Don’t punish those that have come here to learn by not doing enough otherwise I, for one, will leave with a bitter taste in my mouth when I see Warwick at the top of my degree certificate.