of Fenwick’s opposite then saw the
reflection which, of course, was the
correct way round.
New Year, but same old
snowflakes
is more “inclusive” of all students,
including those who identify as
transgender. However, “womxn” is also
causing controversy with some black and
trans women said to be furious that
someone decided they needed a new
word to include them. There’s also the
problem of how to pronounce “womxn”
- nobody seems to know and, more
importantly, few care.
Students at an Oxford college whose
alumni include Margaret Thatcher have
voted against flying the Union Flag on
the Queen’s birthday claiming it is a
“symbol of colonialism.” The decision
was taken at a meeting of the Junior
Common Room of Somerville College in
November where supporters of the
motion alleged that it is not, “a unifying
flag” and that it has “become associated
with violence against non-white people.”
The College said it noted the under-
graduates’ vote, but would continue to
fly the flag on the Queen’s accession day,
her real birthday, her official birthday
and on St George’s Day. It’s perhaps
worth noting that motions at the same
meeting to introduce a “meat-free” day
and provide funding for Chinese New
Year celebrations passed easily. The Sunday Times has reported that
undergraduates at Sheffield University
are being allowed to avoid exam
questions or essays they claim could be
upsetting. Apparently, some of the
unworldly future world leaders were last
year left in “tears” or feeling “distressed
and anxious” by sensitive material.
Lecturers have been advised that topics
in the English literature course which
may cause snowflakes to melt include
politics, race, gender identity, faith and
religion, sexuality, drugs and alcohol,
rape, abortion, disability and domestic or
sexual violence. Great news for those on
the advanced Tellytubbies course.
Meanwhile, students at Goldsmiths
University in London have dropped the
words “woman” and “women” because
they are “offensive” and include the
letters m, a and n. Instead, the Students
Union prefers “womxn” which they say Finally, the Russian-British comedian
Konstantin Kisin has pulled out of student
fund raiser after being asked to sign a
“behavioural agreement form.” This
would have committed him to their no-
tolerance policy which covers, “racism,
27
sexism, classism, ageism, ableism,
homophobia, biphobia, transphobia,
xenophobia, Islamophobia or anti-
religion or anti-atheism.” And probably
anything else ending in -phobia or -ism.
Student leaders at the School of Oriental
and African Studies in London said the
ban was necessary to ensure a “safe space”
for “joy, love, and acceptance.” The Jewish
comedian, who grew up in the Soviet
Union (a place not known for endorsing
such qualities), was due to appear
without being paid to raise funds for
UNICEF. He described the demand as, “a
threat to freedom of speech.”
What’s in a name?
Animal rights group PETA was subjected
to a wave of derisory comments in
November when it called on the 1,000-
year-old village of Wool in Dorset to
change its name. The population of
around 5,300 was advised the name is
offensive because it “promotes cruelty to
sheep.” Instead, PETA wants the village
to be renamed Vegan Wool. Elisa Allen,
director of PETA (People for the ethical
treatment of animals) wrote to the parish
council calling on it to cease promoting
“wool that is stolen from sheep.”
However, local councillor Cherry Brooks
was quick to point out that the village
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