Response to Open Letter on Student Article about Racist and Misogynistic Violence on Campus

Monday 16th March 2020

 

Dear All

We would like to thank all colleagues and members of the community who have written regarding the abhorrent racist and misogynist abuse received by one of our students. The University and the Students’ Guild and Students’ Union condemn this dreadful hate crime and we unequivocally welcome the recommendations put forward by members of our community through their letter. We also welcome the ongoing commitment of our community to work together to tackle all forms of discrimination and harassment, including online abuse, and to promote equality and inclusion. As a University, we strive to deliver positive change. But we fully accept there is more to be done.

We recognise the importance of developing our next steps in partnership, and delivering actions together. We know that colleagues are already actively engaged in discussions around next steps; through dialogue in our Colleges, with our Provost Commission, with our Guild and Students’ Union, and importantly through our diverse staff and student networks and groups. We strongly believe that through dialogue and partnership, we will be able to effect powerful change. We are fully committed to working with you and with our community to identify and to deliver the right collective actions to tackle all forms of abuse, on and beyond our campuses.

As we develop our next actions together, we welcome the input of all members of our community including (but not solely) through regular and open discussions at College Executive Groups, Staff Forums, Department Meetings, SSLCs, Senate, EDI networks and societies, the Provost Commission and in the Guild/SU and through other networks. Given the uncertainty posed by Covid-19 we will be also be launching an online collaborative forum for colleagues to share ideas and developments, as we recognise we may not all be able to join meetings. If you would like to be involved, please email Provost@Exeter.ac.uk.

With our thanks,

Professor Janice Kay, Provost and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Linda Peka, Chief College Operations Officer and Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Group EDI lead
Professor Jo Gill, Pro Vice-Chancellor College of Humanities
Patrick Hoyle, Guild President, University of Exeter Students’ Guild
Joe Rigby, President Exeter, Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union