College boss steps down in outcry over use of N-word
THE boss of a college specialising in the study of black and Asian culture stepped down yesterday in a row over his use of the N-word.
Professor Adam Habib, director of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at London University, used the derogatory term during a video call with students last week.
The slur provoked an outcry, with the students’ union branding SOAS ‘systemically racist’ and calling for him to resign. Prof Habib initially accused his critics of ‘politicising the issue’ and claimed his use of the term had been taken out of context. He apologised but refused to go, saying ‘no malevolent intention was behind my mention of the word’.
However, it emerged yesterday that Prof Habib, who joined the university in January, is ‘stepping aside’ while an external investigation takes place. Marie Staunton, chairman of the board of trustees at SOAS – one of the world’s leading institutions for the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East – said they recognised Prof Habib’s comments had caused ‘pain’.
The row began eight days ago when Prof Habib was asked in a video call about the hypocrisy of SOAS making statements on Black Lives Matter while at the same time allowing staff members to use the N-word in lectures.
Prof Habib said: ‘ The issue around that is... I personally on the n*****... somebody making that allegation, then just bring it to me, I don’t know the case.’
The South African added that using the term violated university policy and anyone found using it would face disciplinary action. Students on the call immediately challenged his use of the racist slur. Prof Habib, former vice-chancellor of Wits University in Johannesburg, replied that he came ‘from a part of the world where we actually do use the word’.
A black male student retorted: ‘You are not a black man, you cannot use the word regardless of your lived experience. You have not faced the trauma and oppression of black bodies, what we go through 24/7 for the last 500 years. You do not embody our history, therefore you cannot use that word.’
After the clip went viral, students launched a petition calling for Prof Habib’s resignation. The students’ union said: ‘What happened was unacceptable, disgusting and to be unequivocally rejected.’ In response, Prof Habib denied that SOAS was institutionally racist or that he had said South Africans use the N-word.
He eventually apologised, saying he recognised students had been hurt and offended, adding: ‘I am sorry to have caused this controversy, and I am keen to work with the whole school on addressing the issues which will enable SOAS to achieve its mission in both the national and global community.’
The external review is being carried out by former higher education ombudsman Judy Clements.
Confirming that Prof Habib would step down in the interim, with his deputy taking over, Miss Staunton said: ‘We will continue to find ways to facilitate the mediated conversations and engagement – including with Adam – that centre the black community and the SOAS community broadly, in ways that also do not compromise the process of the investigation.’
‘Sorry to cause this controversy’