Cambridge College replaces 'Progress' flag with its own

I suspect John Keys actions are why so many in Cambridge, town and gown alike, are happy to use Cauis all the time. At least, they were when I lived there!

It is not, never has been known as Keys. It has long been referred to as Caius, pronounced 'keys'.

And that is the level of common sense, willingness to think, do any research of many journalists these days. Especially on this topic.

This is hopefully a sign of things to come. An optimistic campaign for change has now become a treadmill where the work is getting harder and more unreasonable, while jumping off has become increasingly difficult.

Every small change like this gives me hope that the rational “no” that is required when a friendly hand is greeted not with gratitude, but increasingly petulant demands, will eventually be forthcoming from all quarters.

And I’ve learned about John Keys. Fascinating!

Slightly off the point - John Keys who re-founded Gonville College Latinised his name to sound better.

I am so pleased Caius have made this decision - met my husband at Caius (how boringly hetero!) so it has a special place in my heart

Well done Caius on the common sense.

Cambridge colleges rake in a fair bit from their alumnae, many of whom, being actual grown-ups with life experience, would probably be a bit pissed off to find their college going down any political rabbithole.

For a lot of these kids, inclusion doesn't seem to be much to do with treating them like everyone else. It's something to do with recognizing them as different.

The thing with flags that fly over institutions, like the flag of the country or the college or wherever is relevant, is that they represent everyone. Everyone is a citizen or member which is meant to require a certain type of equal consideration.

It represents that even when groups disagree about how that equal consideration should look. So it represents people who take differing political stances.

As soon as you start supporting causes with flags in these places you start becoming actually less inclusive.

Well done that college!!

Clare College removed the trans flag that the LGBT+ students union tried to fly last November. I think a lot of the Cambridge colleges and their students are getting sick to the back teeth of these idiots whose sole purpose seems to be disruption.

It seems obvious that when you fly a flag for one cause you may have to explain why you're not flying a flag for every cause. The neutral position is to not fly flags for any cause and save yourself the headache

Exactly.

Its just a flag anyway. Real inclusion is more than just hanging a flag. Work on the invisible but very much present barriers experienced by all the students.

If you spend all your time making sure you are keeping track of amd advertising every cause every day all year round you are not going to have time to deal with the actual issues surely. Not to mention the money. Imagine having to tell a student you can't afford to repair the handle in the accessible toilet because you spent the money on express delivery for the limited edition manatee awareness month flag.

For anyone who is understandably puzzled by the 'Keys' thing -- Caius is pronounced like 'keys' in the name Gonville and Caius. One of those things that make people feel like outsiders!

I also got stuck at Keys College! Ffs!

white man studying at one of the world's top universities (ie about as privileged as it's possible to get in the UK) moans because he hasn't got enough privilege or rights

It'll be 'Magdalene also known as Maudlin' next...

KJK has already said that she will be going to her Police HQ (who had the fragrant Helen Belcher present when they hauled up their rainbow flag - I saw the photo) to ask them to fly an Adult Human Female flag for International Women's Day. I wonder what excuse they will give as to why not, when they invariably refuse.

More sunlight.

Anthony Bridgen, a queer PhD student at Gonville and Caius, said he was 'bitterly disappointed' at the announcement.
^He added: 'This regressive decision is of huge detriment to work to improve access, diversity and equality at Caius over the past years.
'It is symbolic of an entrenched, majority cis male, majority white, majority fusty fellowship who neither know nor want to know about the injustices faced by minorities^

This made me laugh. Middle class privileged white man studying at one of the world's top universities (ie about as privileged as it's possible to get in the UK) moans because he hasn't got enough privilege or rights already.

Interestingly, a Caius philosopher was in the news recently for defending free speech:
www.cai.cam.ac.uk/news/dr-ahmed-gives-evidence-parliament-free-speech

And a Caius history professor, who clearly values diversity of opinion (he’s the one who recently caused controversy by using the word ‘eloquent’):
www.spectator.co.uk/article/university-challenge-conservatives-are-now-the-radicals-on-campus

Perhaps they have some influence in the college?

IWD is now a whole month.

Do you need Council permission to fly the progress pride flag (or whatever it’s called)? The government guide lists the rainbow flag as not needing consent but not that one.

So - if the college in actuality is, as it should be, supportive of its students of whatever characteristics, why are the activists so bothered about mere symbols, which by their very nature are not fully inclusive?

Good for them. This month my workplace has the flags, and accompanying teaching materials everywhere. These prettily coloured stripes which represent such a misogynistic and homophobic, movement, which shrugs off the harm caused by medication and surgery as it was dandruff. I can't bear it. I've responded with raising issues about safeguarding our young people, and sharing resources telling detransitioner stories, in their own words, and have been chastised for being negative and 'political.' It feels overwhelming and so easy to say the 'wrong thing'. post-trans.com