Brexit, Protest and God Save the Queen: What happened at Warwick Graduation?

Warwick University’s week of graduation ceremonies saw mixed reactions to inclusion of the UK’s national anthem, a plea from the vice-chancellor for graduates to learn from Brexit, and a student’s gesture of protest against Warwick’s ruling against sit-in demonstrations.

BREXIT

Vice-chancellor Stuart Croft, conducting his first round of graduation ceremonies since his appointment, focused some of his speech on addressing Britain’s vote to leave the European Union (EU) on Monday.

He said that, as a member of an elder generation, he felt partially responsible for a vote that would impact opportunities for young people, urging graduates to learn from mistakes made.

Third-year Modern Languages student Ellie Drave praised Croft on addressing the issue without clear focus on rhetoric from either the Remain or Leave campaigns:

“By wishing the graduates to not make the same mistakes as his generation he showed sympathy and support for the situation of many students in that room.”

The University, which had backed Remain in the run-up to the vote, confirmed that Croft’s sentiments reflected their position.

MIXED REACTIONS TO THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

The ceremonies all ended with attendees standing to sing the UK’s national anthem, God Save the Queen.

This was met with mixed responses: incoming Warwick Students’ Union (SU) education officer Hope Warsdale did not stand for the anthem.

She told the Boar: “The national anthem has a strong historical legacy which is inextricably tied to imperialism, colonialism, slavery and more.

“Warwick prides itself on being a diverse and international university – as such, many of our students will come from countries which are still vividly living in the aftermath of the aforementioned issues, and that can be very alienating.”

Hope went on to say that singing the anthem was particularly inappropriate given recent “violent manifestations” of nationalist feeling across the country.

The University spokesperson, Peter Dunn, responded that Hope was entitled to her opinion, and that the anthem had been included in the ceremony given that the University came into being through a Royal Charter from the Queen. Mr Dunn added that the anthem had been part of the ceremony for decades.

When asked whether she felt the anthem should be omitted, Hope said she would be in favour:

“Countless other institutions across the country do not include this aspect in their ceremonies and I see no reason why that shouldn’t be the same here at Warwick.”

Recent graduate Rachel Elfassy-Bitoun said that, given she is french, she “didn’t relate at all” to the UK’s anthem, but added: “I have attended a British institution so I respect the custom.”

HONORARY GRADUATES

Honorary graduates of the University were invited to present at the ceremonies throughout the week. Notable among them were the former Archbishop of Canterbury and producer of award-winning crime drama City of God; the CEO of Credit Suisse and the current director of the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD).

PROTEST

One of the final graduation ceremonies also saw Connor Woodman, a Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) graduate, pull out a banner that read “Students Against Injunctions”.

The action was a gesture of protest against the University’s campus-wide ruling against sit-ins and occupations.

Connor said: “The High Court injunction is a gross violation of basic liberties

“Direct action is a vital part of our democratic life and, outrageously, such tactics are now illegal at the University of Warwick”

More can be found here.

UPDATE: article altered following the release of information on the gesture of protest against the injunction which bans occupation style protests.