A new report has found “a definite underlying subtext of racism” in British universities, according to its author, Dr Kalwant Bhopal, reader in education at the University of Southampton.

The paper, due to be published June, found that an overwhelming number of academics considered race to be the biggest barrier to career progression.

She said, “Speaking 20 years since the murder of Stephen Lawrence I am surprised at how little progress has been made. There are signs of improvement, but we are progressing in small steps.”

She continued: “The statistics show that most ethnic minority academics are concentrated in post-1992 universities. But the problem of racism is widespread; it is not only confined to Russell Group or elite universities”.

Of the 65 individuals surveyed, only two had reported that they considered gender a greater barrier than race to career progression, both of whom were from a mixed race background. It is thought that only one university in Britain – Liverpool Hope – has a Chancellor from an ethnic minority group.

However, Bhopal said that her research had found that ethnic minority academics not only felt excluded from career progression, but discriminated against through more subtle means. She said that many of those surveyed reported that the body language or lack of eye contact of their colleagues had left them feeling excluded.

“One of the individuals I interviewed recounted that some people were surprised to find that she was black after speaking over the phone”, she said. “Such forms of racism are very hard to prove”.

A spokesperson for Oxford university told Cherwell, “We do recognize that black and other minority groups are under-represented at most academic levels. However, this is also true across most leading universities, higher education in general and in many other sectors

“The overall proportion of Oxford University academic staff declaring themselves as black and minority ethnic is 6.3%, which compares with national figures for academic staff of 6.7%. 7% of the UK labour force identify themselves as BME”.

In 2005, an internal Oxford report found serious failings in attracting minority candidates to administrative positions at Oxford, and recommended immediate action.

However, Dapo Akande, a lecturer at St Peter’s College of African ethnicity, told Cherwell “I have worked in several universities in the UK and the US and have found each of them to be pleasant environments to work in. I would not say that race or racial discrimination has been a barrier to career progression in my case.”

In recent months the university has undertaken a comprehensive audit of ethnic minority staff. The university also said that it reviews its Race Equality Policy on an annual basis, and has sufficient measures in place to ensure the wellbeing of its staff.

Ibaad Aleem, a British-Pakistani student studying at Hertford College commented: “I wouldn’t think anyone would find race a deterrent from academia in the modern world”. He added: “Personally I don’t really think about the race of the people around me”.

On Monday 23^rd April HRH the Duke of Kent officially opened the new quadrangles and buildings of Pembroke College.

The small college, located in the centre of Oxford, has undergone a great transformation after building new student accomodation, seminar and meeting rooms, a multi-purpose auditorium, a purpose-built art gallery, outdoor social spaces and a café. One of the most noteworthy additions is the over-street bridge, the first since the famous Bridge of Sighs. 

The footbridge passes over Brewer Street and adjoins the two new quads to Chapel Quad. It is the first over-street bridge built in over a century, the last to be constructed was the Bridge of Sighs of Hertford College. 

Giles Henderson, the Master of Pembroke, released an official statement, “This major extension of our main site will benefit members of Pembroke for years to come, as well as enhancing this area of Oxford for local residents and visitors. This development should be seen as an outward and visible sign of Pembroke’s increasing self-confidence and ambition.” 

The buildings were designed by architects Berman Guedes Stretton and funded by donations received from over 1,000 different people from more than 40 countries.

At the opening the Duke of Kent together with the Master crossed the bridge and attended a ceremony in the brand new Pichette Auditorium where he unveiled a plague signifying the occasion. The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and the Lord Mayor of Oxford were also present.

Students are pleased with the result. Rebecca Henshaw, a 1st year student at Pembroke, when asked about the student accomodation, commented, “Yes the rooms are great, hotel-like in that they are clean white and modern with lovely bathrooms and luxuries such as heated towel rails.”

She added, “Students were somewhat hidden away from the ceremony but caught glimpses of royalty and many donors for the site yesterday morning. The hall resounded with thunderous applause in response to the opening and the porters seemed to be highly enjoying the ordeal!” 

David White, Pembroke’s JCR President, was also highly enthusiastic about the recent development, telling Cherwell, “The new buildings are an amazing addition to Pembroke. They represent the realisation of an ambitious vision for the College and they signal a fantastic enhancement of the Pembroke community.”

In particular he raved about Pembroke Bridge, commenting, “It’s like the Bridge of Sighs – but just far more modern and far more cool – it connects fabulously the old and the new at Pembroke. It unites the first and second year residents of Pembroke’s main site and makes this landmark development in the College’s history feel natural.”

Two Oxford University students, Benjamin Morrell and William Heywood, will be taking part in a 24 hour ‘Organathon’ in order to raise money for Christian Aid.

The ‘Organathon’ will take place in Trinity College Chapel between 9am and 9am on the 27th and 28th April (Saturday of 1st week to Sunday of 2nd).

Morrell, senior organ scholar at Trinity, and Heywood, an organ scholar at Harris Manchester, will be playing in 2 hour shifts throughout the 24 hour period.

Each hour will have a theme and some ofthe themes include Bach, French Romantic, hymns, English and improvisation. John Cage’s ‘As Slow As Possible’ will also be played over a two hour period.

When asked why Christian Aid was being supported specifically, Morrell said, “It fits in well with the instrument and setting of the event, as well as being a worthwhile charity which helps to alleviate poverty around the world.”

Morrell describes how he came up with the idea, “I had long hoped to attempt an Organathon as an alternative to continuous running and swimming events I had heard about, but had been persuaded to put the challenge aside until I could find another organist to help share the burden.”

Organs can become damaged if played continuously and hence there will be five minute intervals every few hours. There will be an audience at the 12:00 concert, which is part of the Trinity Parent’s Day programme.

The team hope to raise £500 and donations can be made on their justgiving.com page by Googling ‘Oxford Organathon’.

Last week President Atifete Jahjaga of Kosovo visited the University’s Blavatnik School of Government. The lecture, entitled “Kosovo’s Path to Statehood and its European Future”, was witnessed by officials, faculty, staff and some of the School’s first students.

The presidential visit follows an EU-brokered accord between Kosovo and Serbia, reached on Friday 19^th April, which aims to normalise relations between the states. Kosovo broke from Serbia in 1999 after the Kosovo War, and was overseen by the United Nations for nine years. In February 2008 it declared its independence and has been recognised as an independent state by 96 countries, Serbia not among them.

Relations with neighbouring Serbia were described as “cold and unfinished” by the President during her visit, but significant progress has been made with the recent EU agreement and a meeting between President Jahjaga and President Tomislav Nikoliq of Serbia in February.

President Jahjaga defined the five year old state as “a country that seeks to build its future without forgetting its difficult past”. The President spoke of the country’s success in moving on from violence and the measures being taken to establish mutual respect between Serbia and its former province. She explained that the country’s major problem of corruption and organised crime was being tackled by the creation of the National Anticorruption Council.

As the Balkan Region’s first female Head of State, President Jahjaga asserted that democracy requires “full engagement by all the layers of society”.

The Dean of the School, Professor Ngaire Woods, stated, “Here at the School, we talk a great deal about what true leadership requires.   President Jahjaga brought to life what this means in practical terms as a Head of State working to heal the wounds of a difficult past in her country. Everyone who attended her lecture was inspired by her commitment to create a transparent, stable and inclusive society for her people. We were honoured to have her deliver a Leadership Lecture at the Blavatnik School of Government.”

A representative of South East European Studies at Oxford (SEESOX) called the visit “particularly timely” in light of recent events, and continued to say that “The importance which Oxford attaches to South East Europe is demonstrated by the existence of SEESOX, which studies the region and holds a series of seminars and workshops on it. We invite readers of Cherwell to visit us.”