Donors turn backs on ‘woke’ university
Dozens axe or scale back cash gifts after Edinburgh ‘cancelled’ Hume
DOZENS of donors have cancelled or reduced financial gifts to a top Scottish university at the centre of a woke row.
The backlash came after the University of Edinburgh renamed the David Hume Tower over the philosopher’s alleged slavery links and discriminatory comments made in 1742.
Social anthropologist Dr Neil Thin, 60, withdrew from teaching after he spoke out against the decision and was hounded and falsely smeared by student activists. He was cleared of any wrongdoing following an eight-week university inquiry.
Sources have told the Mail there is increasing concern about the woke controversies and the potential impact on donathe tions and bequests.
Last night, a Scottish Tory spokesman said: ‘While everyone agrees on the need to recognise the wrongs of the past, we cannot just throw away Scotland and the UK’s history.
‘We can acknowledge wrongdoing without erasing the role of key historical figures.’
A Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the Mail to the
‘We are sorry to be losing touch’
university found that 26 individuals had cancelled direct debits ‘expressly in response to Press articles on the renaming of David Hume Tower’.
The FoI response added: ‘Of these individuals, fewer than five also noted Dr Thin in their correspondence about their reason for cancellation.
‘No donor has expressly cancelled any donation solely on the basis of any matters relating to Dr Neil Thin.
‘Twenty-one individuals have said they are going to amend or withdraw a legacy in relation to the renaming of the David Hume Tower.’
The university declined to say how much money had been lost because of the woke row.
The university said a pro forma response had been devised for complaints to university principal Professor Peter Mathieson about the renaming of the David Hume Tower last year to ‘40 George Square’.
It said: ‘Thank you for taking time to send me your thoughts on the issues raised by the university’s interim decision to rename David Hume Tower.
‘This interim decision was based on dialogue with our diverse student community... and was endorsed by the university executive.’
A pro forma response to people threatening to stop donations states: ‘We understand the strength of feeling and the wide range of views across the university community on the interim decision over David Hume Tower. Alumni will have a chance to express their views on this matter... before a final decision is taken.
‘(Add section here relating to the specific request re mailing list, cancelling of direct debit/ legacy, etc.)
‘Many thanks again for sharing your views. We are sorry to be losing touch with you and do hope that you may wish to connect again with the university in the future.’
Professor Mathieson said the university has not suspended Dr Thin, who declined to comment last night.
A university spokesman said: ‘Views amongst our donors will vary widely and we completely respect the fact that individuals may sometimes disagree with decisions we take, and may choose to suspend or cancel their support.’