Poster backing Vote Leave was labelled racist
‘RACIST’ LEAVE POSTERS TORN DOWN
Remy Osman, 24, a history graduate from the University of Warwick, put up Vote Leave posters which were branded racist by students.
He told the Daily Mail: ‘During the referendum campaign last year, pro-Brexit students had to brave a lot of abuse for voicing their opinion on campus. The default position of the majority of academics was, “Of course you’ll all vote Remain as you are educated”.
‘One morning a few of us put up some Vote Leave posters around the campus. They were all ripped down by 9am with people associated with the Students’ Union gleefully celebrating this.
‘I remember the rhetoric being along the lines of celebrating stripping the campus of “racist” posters.’ Last night a spokesman for the University of Warwick, said: ‘Academics and researchers have the same right to political views as anyone else.’
PRO-EU SPEECH BY PROVOST
Melanie Jennings, 55, told the Mail that at her daughter’s graduation ceremony at University College London last year, the provost Michael Arthur used his speech to warn about Brexit.
One graduate even received a cheer when she queued up wearing an EU flag.
Mrs Jennings said: ‘It spoilt a memorable occasion to celebrate and applaud the achievements [of] the graduates and made us decidedly uncomfortable in the politically charged atmosphere where it was assumed we would be in agreement.
‘We wanted to leave or boo the provost’s speech but of course, this kind of dissent would have embarrassed and disturbed my daughter so we remained mute and upset during what should have been a happy and joyous occasion.
‘There was one graduate who queued to the stage wearing a large EU flag draped over her black cloak who received rapturous applause. We wondered why she was allowed to dress in this unconventional way to receive her certification.’
A UCL spokesman said: ‘We are sorry a graduate’s family felt this way but there was no intention to offend. We would never try to influence the views of students or staff.’
PETITION FOR A NEW REFERENDUM
Professor Geoffrey Grimmett, master of Downing College, Cambridge urged all academics and students to sign a petition calling for a re-run of the EU referendum following Britain’s vote for Brexit.
He used the college email system to send the message titled ‘Referendum Petition’ to all staff, undergraduates and postgraduates at his college.
The petition, which was signed by more than 4million people in the wake of the referendum, stated: ‘We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the Remain or Leave vote is less than 60 per cent based on a turnout less than 75 per cent, there should be another referendum.’
Last night when asked about the email, Professor Grimmett told the Mail: ‘I do not remember that.
‘I always try to impress on students they should use their votes, and in whichever directions they believe to be correct. I have never told a student how to vote. On the other hand, I have been clear that I consider Brexit as challenging to Cambridge and its colleges.’
PROFESSORS TWEET IN FAVOUR OF EU
Professor Laurent Pech is ‘Jean Monnet chair’ in EU public law at Middlesex University. These chairs receive up to 50,000 euros (£44,260) over three years – although Professor Pech’s funding recently ended.
He criticised Chris Heaton-Harris’ letter, tweeting: ‘Denunciation of enemies, traitors, saboteurs and attempts to eliminate dissent via intimidation tactics are hallmarks of authoritarian regimes.’ He has written that the Home Office is not ‘fit for purpose’ which ‘should not be trusted with citizens’ rights’.
A Middlesex University spokesman said: ‘As an expert in his field he has academic freedom to express his views. He is not speaking on behalf of the university.’
After Article 50 was triggered, Panos Koutrakos, the Jean Monnet chair from City, University of London, said the move would harm human rights. ‘Brexit will have serious consequences for the considerable rights that individuals and business currently enjoy,’ he said. Last night City University did not respond to requests for comments. Claudio Radaelli, Jean Monnet chair in European Public Policy at Exeter University, said: ‘[It is] thunderously clear the citizens have not given the mandate sought by [Theresa] May to support an extreme and irresponsible approach to Brexit.’
A University of Exeter spokesman said: ‘The university supports freedom of speech, which is enshrined in law. Whether academics personally supported Leave or Remain, or chose not to participate, has no bearing on their ability to deliver highquality, stimulating and challenging courses.’
ANTI-BREXIT SPEECH AT GRADUATION
Anthony Hodges, 70, said he was ‘disgusted’ when the speaker at his 24-year-old daughter’s graduation ceremony at the University of Bath gave a strongly pro- EU speech, days after the referendum.
The retired pilot said: ‘The guest of honour gave a speech devoted mainly in praise of the EU. It was very inappropriate, we don’t want political dogma [at a graduation]. I was completely astonished by the diatribe.’
The University of Bath last night declined to comment.