Rector hopefuls spark uni protest

STUDENT activists are to stage a protest against two controversial nominations for rector at the University of Glasgow as candidates state their case today.

Right-wing journalist Milo Yiannopoulos and Canadian Professor Jordan Peterson are among 11 candidates nominated by students for the position but the Glasgow University anarchist student group is organising a demonstration after de- scribing both as intolerant and unsuitable for the role.

The student group called Yiannopoulos a “fascist troll” for his involvement in a series of offensive and controversial incidents while Prof Peterson has been criticised for a supposed refusal to use gender-neutral pronouns when addressing trans people.

Yiannopoulos said he would call for the Muslim Students Association to be banned, something fellow nominee and human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar branded a “disgusting attack”.

A hustings event is to be held at the university today, with each candidate, or representative, to state their case and take questions. Neither Yiannopoulos or Prof Peterson is expected to attend the event.

The university said the election is a student-run process but that the rector is “required to abide by the values of the university”.

A statement by protesters said: “To be clear, we do not equate Jordan Peterson with the fascist troll Yiannopoulos; however, both represent to varying degrees the intolerant trope, currently on the rise in the west, of privileged voices that seek to silence and oppress others.

“The university has refused to remove Milo Yiannopoulos and Jordan Peter- son from the nomination despite their standing in stark opposition to their own equality and diversity policy.

“By claiming ‘neutrality’ over this issue, the university refuses to guarantee the safety of its own students and ridicules its proclaimed ‘inclusive’ credentials. We will be demonstrating to show there are some who will not tolerate the continuing spread of hatred.”