Oxford has come under fire for its “pathetic” activity on Twitter this morning, after the University’s official account retweeted a tweet labelling David Lammy MP “bitter”.
Following the release of the University’s first-ever undergraduate admissions report last night, Lammy – who accused Oxford of “social apartheid” last year – tweeted “Oxford is a bastion of entrenched, wealthy, upper class, white, southern privilege. We need systemic change.”
Oxford is a bastion of entrenched, wealthy, upper class, white, southern privilege. We need systemic change. That means foundation years, centralised admissions and contextual admissions. A summer school is in no way even close to sufficient in addressing the scale of the problem https://t.co/tHTuJMA6fi
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) May 23, 2018
An account belonging to a user named Liam Beadle then quoted Lammy’s tweet, and said: “As a member of the University from inner-city northern England, I think Mr Lammy’s constant bitter criticism of Oxford is bang out of order.”
The University’s official account then retweeted Beadle’s reply.
As a member of the University from inner-city northern England, I think Mr Lammy’s constant bitter criticism of Oxford is bang out of order. https://t.co/eAupRvpvQi
— Liam Beadle (@liambeadle) May 23, 2018
Lammy screenshotted the tweet, and said: “Interesting on @UniofOxford Twitter. Oxford falls over itself to say how committed it is to improving access but… All I did was FOI [Freedom of Information] you and publish the data for all to see. Your lack of progress is the problem. Your failure to deal with institutional failings is the problem.”
Hello @UniofOxford is it your official position that I am "bitter" just because I am prepared to criticise your institutional failings on access, FOI the data and publish it? This contradicts your press statements that say how determined you are to improve access. Which is right? pic.twitter.com/K9pkojAdJv
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) May 23, 2018
Journalist and author Sathnam Sanghera, a Cambridge graduate, tweeted: “Just amazing and depressing beyond belief that the official Oxford University Twitter would retweet something calling @DavidLammy “bitter”. Take a good look at yourself @UniofOxford. Pathetic.”
Just amazing and depressing beyond belief that the official Oxford University Twitter would retweet something calling @DavidLammy "bitter". Take a good look at yourself @UniofOxford. Pathetic.
— Sathnam Sanghera (@Sathnam) May 23, 2018
Sanghera told Cherwell: “I think the RT and the prickly response of the University’s spokespeople demonstrates a real entrenched resistance to change, or even basic acknowledgement that Oxbridge has a serious problem with access.”
Guardian writer Dawn Foster tweeted a screenshot of the retweet, and wrote: “Oxford University official twitter account having a meltdown is it?”
https://twitter.com/DawnHFoster/status/999198949981507584
The University’s head of public affairs, Ceri Thomas, then tweeted from his personal account taking the blame for the retweet.
However, the account is yet to undo the retweet.
Hello @DavidLammy Apologies: it was my call to retweet our students including @liambeadle. But we agree with you that Oxford needs to do more and criticism of us is no sign of bitterness. There’s been progress, but work to do.
— Ceri Thomas (@CeriThomas01) May 23, 2018
The University has been contacted for comment.
