Is this billboard for a university’s health degree really racist?
A UNIVERSITY has taken down adverts for a degree course after critics branded it ‘racist’.
Billboard posters, showing a white woman facing a group of black pupils, were accused of promoting so-called ‘voluntourism’.
The advert carried the caption, ‘If you want to explore new worlds. Start here’, and promoted a University of Wolverhampton public health degree.
It was part of a wider campaign about what work opportunities the degree could lead to. But lecturers and students from across the country claimed the posters were offensive and – following a campaign on social media – the university apologised and agreed to take them down.
Dr Helen Dexter, associate professor of international politics at Leicester University, said: ‘This image is so offensive I am amazed anyone at the University of Wolverhampton thought it was appropriate. Please withdraw it immediately.’ While Nicole Andrews, a lecturer at Newman University in Birmingham, said: ‘There’s strands of colonialism, patriotism, racism, gender issues. It’s a very difficult picture. I was pleased when it was taken down.’
Dr Lisa Ann Richey, professor of international development at Denmark’s Roskilde University, tweeted: ‘Voluntourism is not something we should claim is educational.’
‘Voluntourism’ is a word coined to describe young people going abroad to carry out charity work. However, critics, including Harry Potter author JK Rowling, say the poor are often used as an opportunity ‘to enhance privileged Westerners’ CVs and the work can do more harm than good.
But others branded the row ‘a storm in a teacup’ and criticised the academics for taking offence. Johno Thomo tweeted: ‘No doubt the boffins have too much time on their hands with their three-month holidays and fancy a whinge. If it was a black girl staring at white kids no one would bat an eyelid.’ The university said it never intended to offend anyone with the billboards. Head of marketing Raman Sarpal said: ‘Every year, the university runs numerous creative campaigns across various channels around the UK. Following careful consideration the decision was taken to withdraw this particular advert, which is part of a wider campaign, and we are in the process of removing the image. The university prides itself on having a diverse student body, and of being inclusive.’