‘On leave’...student in vow to paint over WWI tribute
A STUDENT union president who sparked outrage after vowing to paint over a First World War artwork is “on leave until further notice”, it emerged yesterday.
Emily Dawes, 21, was forced to apologise this week after she branded Southampton University’s Rothenstein Mural a “mural of white men” and threatened to deface it.
Her comments were slammed by students, members of the public and even the artist’s grandchildren.
The student union’s vice president of sports Steve Gore wrote on Facebook: “Please note that Emily Dawes is on leave until further notice and therefore will not be reachable for her day-to-day duties.”
Ms Dawes provoked outrage when she criticised the 1916 artwork by Sir William Rothenstein, which shows an unknown soldier being awarded a degree at Cambridge University.
She wrote on Twitter: “Mark my words – we’re taking down the mural of white men in the uni Senate room, even if I have to paint over it myself.”
More than 11,000 people signed an online petition calling for Ms Dawes to resign. The artist’s grandson Julian Rothenstein branded her comments “utterly ridiculous”.
In an apology, Ms Dawes said she had “never meant to disrespect anyone”. She said: “My intention was to promote strong, female leadership and not the eradication and disrespect of history.”