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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be OUTRAGED by this university lecturer???!!!

130 replies

Oakmaiden · 10/05/2011 15:46

So much so that I have lost control of my punctuation???

This is the situation: I was in a lecture this morning about Inclusion in Society. We were discussing racism and multiculturalism. Towards the end of the lecture the lecturer said that she felt that multiculturalism could be taken too far, and that since world domination was a central tenet of the Muslim faith, she thinks immigration should be curbed or she is concerned that we will be "taken over" and all have to live by Islamic laws. I mean WTF??? "World Domination is the central tenet of the Muslim Faith"???

One I had picked my jaw up off the floor I did challenge her fairly firmly. She made me get up in front of the class to tell them all why I thought she was a racist she was incorrect in her assertions. Which frankly I was more than happy to do - and was rather depressed at how many of the class seemed to agree with her.

So - was I wrong to challenge. Actually, don't answer that - no I bloody wasn't. But - should I be taking this further? Should she really be teaching inclusion/sociology to would be teachers if she cannot keep her own odious opinions out of the lectures? Should I write a letter of complaint to the course leader? Or should I just keep my head down?

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 10/05/2011 16:03

ROBF-it is a religion and ethnic background so still applies.

RobF · 10/05/2011 16:03

Islam is an ethnic background? Since when?

Virgowoo · 10/05/2011 16:03

Mmm, bit peculiar that. If she actually made those remarks in an unambigous way that they are definitely her personal opinion and not a "some might say" way, then YANBU.

Even if it's a setting designed to provoke debate, lecturers should still be running their classes with diversity awareness in mind. Perhaps she thought she was on 'safe' territory with no brown faces in your group? It IS important that opposing viewpoints are raised, but not with the lecturer voicing their own personal opinions.

Presumably no-one here would think it reasonable if the above remarks were made by a Muslim lecturer criticising Christianity?

I'd be voicing my concerns to the course leader.

NormanTebbit · 10/05/2011 16:03

And many lecturers hold views you might not agree with. They are academics and are paid to have views.

Birdsgottafly · 10/05/2011 16:04

OP on your book list you will see books containing opposing views, as it should do.

RevoltingPeasant · 10/05/2011 16:04

Rob obviously opinion comes into it, but the point of being an academic is that you ought to be able to recognise and point to your own bias. So I might say, 'Well, as a feminist I think this for x reasons but there is also y argument'.

I would not get up and starting spouting about how 'women in this country are oppressed' etc because that is not my remit as professional.

And of course some lecturers do inappropriately introduce personal opinions - just like some doctors don't read case notes properly and some lawyers are corrupt. Doesn't make it decent practice.

londonone · 10/05/2011 16:06

"Except Rob, no, I don't think she IS allowed her own opinion when she is supposed to be teaching about the need to be inclusive and tolerant. Or at least, she is allowed her views but she shouldn't be expressing them"

Seems pretty clear to me that the op thinks that the lecturer shouldn't be able to express anything other than the "party line". Though as some people have pointed out the "party line" is itself simply a political standpoint.

Birdsgottafly · 10/05/2011 16:06

ROBF-The Equality Bill extends forms of discrimination so includes culture and ethnic background. Just making the point that it is covered.

LaurieFairyCake · 10/05/2011 16:06

I think you should complain - unless you have woefully misrepresented her she is clearly too stupid to be teaching in a university.

I'm a lecturer and I have never heard such an ill-thought out poorly constructed argument from a 5 year old, never mind a colleague.

Are you at thicko university? How poorly rated is your course? Is it a real degree course?

Ariesgirl · 10/05/2011 16:06

Isn't Islamaphobia different to racism though?

She wasn't being racist. In my opinion.

RevoltingPeasant · 10/05/2011 16:07

Norman quite. If she were introducing a current debate in sociology and then saying 'I sit on this side of the fence and agree with x and y research', that's one thing - if she just punctuated a lecture on the idea of diversity with random personal demurrals then that's another.

Birdsgottafly · 10/05/2011 16:08

But as an acedemic you are allowed to fit into a school of thought. As long as it is not illegal then you are allowed to do that especially in a subject matter such as sociology.

RevoltingPeasant · 10/05/2011 16:09

Wow, Laurie, thicko university.....? I work at a small regional institution and my colleagues are plenty intelligent enough to recognise the problems with what the OP has posted Hmm

RevoltingPeasant · 10/05/2011 16:10

Birds yes but it doesn't sound as though the lecturer was introducing her ideas in that way. Anyhow, going to bog off so I don't dominate the thread.

Oakmaiden go and talk to your dept head, if there is a problem it will get noticed and if the lecturer was being cackhandedly provocative then you haven't committed yourself on paper.

Original poster
Oakmaiden · 10/05/2011 16:12

I don't mind people having opinions different to my opinion. I would have no problem with discussing the reasons why people may hold those different opinions and the concerns people might have about multiculturalism.

I do have problems with a lecturer standing up and giving her OPINION without offering alternative viewpoints, and frankly expressing it in such a "Daily Express" scaremongering sort of way.

OP posts:
HHLimbo · 10/05/2011 16:12

Oakmaiden are you islamic?

Because some islamic groups have been pushing for islamic law to be recognised in the british system (which is completely unacceptable). This might be what she was refering to?

WhereYouLeftIt · 10/05/2011 16:13

Whilst everyone is entitled to their opinion, there is a power imbalance between a lecturer and their students. The students are there to learn, to absorb. Many would lack the confidence to challenge a contentious opinion in such a setting. And any decent lecturer should be aware of that. It shows a lack of professionalism for this lecturer to express her opinion in this setting.

I'd love Chil1234's take to be real, but I have experienced something similar myself. The lecturer was about 15 years senior to the majority of the students (another inhibitor IMHO) but I was about 10 years older again so was less inhibited Blush than they to call him to justify his statements. He was not playing Devil's Advocate, more's the pity.

RobF · 10/05/2011 16:14

Is multiculturalism "right" and anyone that disagrees with it "wrong" and in need of explaining why their opinions are wrong? Or are their opinions equally as valid as anyone elses?

Original poster
Oakmaiden · 10/05/2011 16:14

Laurie yeah, sure. I go to a thicko university. Thanks. Hmm

OP posts:
Virgowoo · 10/05/2011 16:14

BTW, I don't think RobF sounds like he has ever walked down the next street to a university, never mind attended one.

Birdsgottafly · 10/05/2011 16:16

I may have it wrong but it sounds as though she lectured on inclusion and then finished with her view. This is a usual format. I thought that it was usual to ask for comments and ask the person to stand to give them.

The facility is there for feedback so OP use it if you wish because it is difficult to judge without being there.

Virgowoo · 10/05/2011 16:16

HHLimbo, can we have some evidence of that statement?

Birdsgottafly · 10/05/2011 16:17

Op also although i have given a slightly different point of view, remember that your views are as valid as hers.

Original poster
Oakmaiden · 10/05/2011 16:18

Rob well, obviously if you don't believe the same as me you are wrong Grin

No - in seriousness: it is, to an extent, about political correctness. And about the fact that as an educator it IS important to be SEEN to value all people equally. Even if in your heart you don't really believe it. Students will find it mighty hard to find jobs in schools if they do not understand that expressing certain views IS socially unacceptable and the need to be seen to be non-judgemental and accepting of difference.

OP posts:
NormanTebbit · 10/05/2011 16:19

Oakmaiden

Why don't you just go and talk to her about it?

HHLimbo - there are already Sharia law courts which sort out community issues, give financial advice etc

I don't think you need to clutch your pearls just yet.