Professor was wrongly sacked over ‘gypo’ row
A PROFESSOR sacked by the Royal Academy of Music for referring to violinists as ‘gypos’ was wrongfully dismissed, a tribunal ruled yesterday.
Francesca Carpos-Young, 59, used the term in lecture notes sent to 800 students, telling them what to expect when they started work. She also said the orchestra might be referred to as ‘the boys’, the brass section as pub-goers and the string section as teadrinking ‘pond life’.
Students accused her of shameful stereotyping, describing the term ‘gypos’ as racist.
Professor Carpos-Young was fired for gross misconduct within 24 hours of her comments being shared on social media.
However, Judge Sarah Goodman ruled she had not intended her words to be made public and she had been taken out of context.
She added: ‘They were ironic in tone, intended to convey the real world in which instrumentalists and singers would have to find work and build a career, and how to behave to get on in precarious world of sessional booking.
‘At most the claimant can be accused of foolishness in failing to anticipate how a superficial readership might wrench some of the terms out of context and manufacture a sense of outrage.’ Professor Carpos-Young, who has played bassoon for some of the best orchestras in the world, told the Central London employment tribunal she was raising awareness of inequality in her industry.
And she accused the academy, which boasts Sir Elton John as a former student, of concealing discrimination within its ranks.
She said the notes were referencing findings she had made when interviewing more than 100 musicians for her PhD.
In a written ruling, Judge Goodman and her panel upheld claims for wrongful dismissal and victimisation but rejected those for whistleblowing and sex discrimination. Professor Carpos-Young could now get her job back. This will be discussed at a remedy hearing when compensation will be agreed.
She had been at the academy for only two months before her dismissal last November.