University hosts ‘racist’ NUS event
Police are investigating race hate claims after a delegate at a National Union of Students (NUS) training seminar held in Central Hall in August allegedly held up a sign saying ‘Bring Back Slavery’.
YUSU President Tom Scott found himself embroiled in the subsequent controversy following comments reported in a national newspaper talking down the seriousness of the incident.
Craig Cox, of Nottingham University Student Union, is under investigation by the police for holding up the sign, while another student delegate was also investigated by the NUS for claiming that black students “increase gun and knife crime” on campuses.
NUS Black Students’ Officer Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy, whose team reported the events to North Yorkshire Police, said: “It is unacceptable that black students should have to put up with blatant racist stereotypes at NUS events.
“It is unacceptable that slavery can be treated as a joke. It is one of the greatest crimes in human history,” she added.
However, Scott, who took part in the seminar, told the Daily Telegraph: “There is a lot of political correctness in the union. There were people on the course with strong political views. The student involved was frankly poking people to see if he could get a response which worked – but I don’t think there was any malice intended.”
Scott later appeared to backtrack on his comments, telling Nouse: “It was a bad quote that got given to the [Daily] Telegraph. I should have shut up really.”
“It was a very, very off-colour joke that should not have been made,” Scott said, referring to the incident, adding: “The big thing is that none of our staff, students or sabbs were involved in this. It just happened to be held in York.”
Many delegates were clearly upset by both incidents, the Daily Telegraph reported. A number of black students have allegedly threatened to boycott future NUS events as a result. Police are obligated to investigate any allegation made by someone who feels they have been the victim of racism.
A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “North Yorkshire Police can confirm that we are investigating a racially motivated incident during a student event at York University between 12-15 August. Inquiries are currently ongoing.”
In addition to the North Yorkshire Police enquiry, Cox was also investigated by the NUS and the University of Nottingham Students Union.
The NUS found Cox to be in serious breach of its equal opportunities policy, and as a result, banned him from attending any future NUS non-democratic events. This is the most serious sanction that the NUS can bring against an Executive Officer.
Cox, President of the Nottingham University Conservative Association, was also sanctioned by his Union, and faces the potential of future punishment. He denies any wrongdoing, and claims to have produced the sign to “wind up” fellow participants at the NUS seminar.
“The real story here is that the NUS wants to run a show trial that would make Stalin blush. Due process, natural justice and fairness are, in NUS eyes, mere concepts that can be readily ignored when it suits them,” he said
‘These witch-hunts have got to stop. It’s about time the NUS started representing ordinary students again and stopped acting as a front for left-wing zealots,” Cox added.
Christopher Mullan, Students’ Union President at King’s College London, was also investigated by the NUS for allegedly questioning whether black students should be encouraged to attend Universities, as they would increase gun and knife crime.
The 23-year-old, a member of the exclusive Disraeli Club, which fundraises for youth events within the Tory Party, is also said to have questioned whether “undesirables” from the black community were wanted at universities.
Mullan has been cleared by the NUS, but is still under investigation by his students’ union.
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Ant Ordlay
“The NUS found Cox to be in serious breach of its equal opportunities policy…”
What about the NUS seriously breaching the laws of this land relating to freedom of speech (however distasteful and lacking in wit this banner was).
Chris Northwood
Which part of the freedom of speech law makes it illegal for organisations to censor their members?
Ola Varday
so.. somehow the fact that he did say ‘bring back slavery’ for whatever reason is being ignored. and freedom of speech is being raised as a valid point.
Kill everyone with an ak 47!!! and maybe hand out guns to children to shoot up schools. and murder is cool, legalize it!
what? freedom of speech!
Dan Taylor
“Kill everyone with AK 47’s”. That’s incitement to violence, isn’t it? Saying you should legalise murder however is not. It is a political point of view where the secondary implications are violence, however distasteful this may be. I’d still allow you a right to say it though.
I wonder what the outcry would have been if it was a Hindu shouting “bring back Sati” (widown burning). The fact is that the NUS is run by left-wing zealots with alterior motives to representing the students they claim to. Sorry; they don’t represent me.