Diversity at Durham? No sign of it!

[Dunlurking]

AIBU to think Durham University only want British students who are white? Have been browsing through my (mixed race) year 12 ds' pile of prospectuses. I am gobsmacked. The Durham University undergraduate prospectus has 22 little "meet the student" profiles. All with a photo showing a white student. There is one with a non English name (possibly) but no photo.

Also look at this youtube clip here Same. And all very public school; the clip starts with rowing. Now that will really attract the ethnic inner city kids from state schools!

Maybe I'm being naive but WHY would any state school educated non white teenager believe Durham would be interested in them.? Is that the point? I CANNOT BELIEVE the university gets away with this. Don't they have to prove they are encouraging equality/diversity? They get our taxes!

I would not bet against that, StAndrewsDay, if only to attract overseas students.

I wonder if the perception of Durham as a "posh" uni will change now it's joint med school with Newcastle is in Stockton on Tees? My family are from Teeside and Teeside is definitely not posh. It's an interesting development. Good for Teeside but surprising for Durham. It's a bit like St Andrews having an outreach uni in Glenrothes or Methil.

Wombat you're making huge assumptions about what I think about access in general and Durham in particular. My point is not that no access initiatives are required but that OP over-reacted wildly and needed to check out the website before leaping to silly conclusions.

I've looked at the clip again and I can see it showing a wide range of activities across the university. The university wants people to come and try out what's on offer, regardless of whether they've done it before. I can't even see that it's 'public school' particularly - it shows Durham City, several colleges, music, a science lab , a wide range of sports, Stockton, a canteen. In terms of sport, it would be extremely odd to omit rowing - the river and rowing is a huge deal in Durham, fact. Yes it shows Castle and gowns but that attracts a great many applicants. So if we're talking about inclusivity, why should that target audience be left out?

Incidentally, in terms of access, I myself think it extremely important not to patronize those you're seeking to encourage, which there seems a definite tendency to do, on MN. It really jars.

The OP has certainly stirred some passions ! although not wholly convinced some of the flaming quite deserved, as she has prompted some interesting discussion and some opportunity for the truth or otherwise of some of the Durham myths to be explored. Lies, damned lies and youtube :)

I must admit that I have to side with Molio in terms of the whether or not there is a private:state split between the Bailey and Hill colleges. It is true that public school applicants are more likely to apply to one of the Bailey colleges, however, it is also very clear that they are no more likely to get a place in a bailey college than a state school applicant. Indeed if anything state school applicants have a marginally better chance of getting into bailey colleges overall.

I did not go to Durham back in the dim distant days of being a student, but DS1 had an offer, and I must admit to greatly enjoying visiting the various colleges on both open days. If anything the most unrepresentative thing about the youtube videos is the fact that most if not all the students in them appear to be bigger than the average five year old which makes me genuinely wonder how any of them could possibly squeeze into some of the ludicrously tiny en-suites that most of the colleges seemed to have :)

I would urge the OP's DD to take the chance and visit on an Open Day. Whatever views people may have it remains one of our very best Uni's and is in a wonderfully hospitable part of the country.

boys3 sorry if this seems rude for not knowing, but don't you, or didn't you, have DC or a DC at Durham? I thought you did.

Molio, he had it as his insurance choice last year.