Should I email my Uni Lecturer about this?

[Magpiemavis]

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster!

I’m in my first year of a uni degree, and was just listening to one of my online uni lectures. I was quite stunned to hear the lecturer brand JK Rowling a transphobe. Having actually read JK Rowling’s open letter, would it be reasonable of me to email the lecturer and ask why they thought this was a reasonable thing to do?

Would really appreciate some outside views on this!

Alas. I'd pop an email to the regular lecturer too. This might give her a heads-up on cleanup she'll have to do when she gets back from research leave! You can word it perfectly naïvely if you like, along the lines of you were told this claim by the substitute, but you've read the blog posts and you simply don't understand where this argument is coming from; could the line of argument be clarified for you, please? Asking for definitions and evidence and clarification of logic should be welcomed in a humanities degree...I find it disappointing, but not unsurprising, that a recent graduate might make an unsubstantiated claim like that in a lecture. We all shoot off the cuff at times, but if challenged, we should be ready to step up with evidence, or gracefully concede. The latter doesn't seem to be encouraged.

@Magpiemavis
I hope not for your sake. Xx

Magpiemavis all the grading of your assignments should be fully anonymous and either moderated or second marked. There really should not be any fall out for raising a question, and if there is, it would be highly unprofessional of your tutor.

Any students on this thread, please do not forget: student fees are the main income for most universities. Your fees not only pay for libraries and lecturer salaries but also for diversity and inclusion certification schemes, initiatives and events. If these are obviously biased towards one constituency and actually work in a way that is exclusionary and interferes with student learning (for example by keeping students from querying claims made by their tutors), then you are entitled to complain.

Many academics despise the hyperbolic claims and smears of this political movement. An email from a concerned student can serve as ammunition in management meetings and rejig the balance.

@Frouby - oh yes, some of your lecturers most certainly will be GC. The threat of intimidation is very real - it really works to keep them quiet. And it's so much harder to identify your allies without face to face interactions.

@Magpiemavis - I'm so pleased you sent the email! As a temporary fill-in for your lecturer, I think it's really unlikely they'll be able to influence your marks or your time at uni. It's not on you of course - but as a few have said - your original lecturer or head of department may view an email from you as an opportunity to open a discussion inside the department they think needs having. Of course, there's a risk they may be fully blown trans allies, so no need to take the risk - just something to bear in mind.

I hope you don't have any fall out from this. Grading is supposed to be anonymous but in reality it is fairy easy to look up whose assignment you are marking if you are so inclined. Though it sounds like this person is temporary cover and may well not be marking anyway.

You should absolutely, though, make sure that the module evaluation you complete at the end of the term mentions this lecture. That should be anonymous. Mentioning this to the regular lecturer would also be a good idea. I have had to speak to a junior member of staff in the past about the fact that he was forcing his political views on students and broaching no dissent - and that this wasn't appreciated by the class. It seemed to come as a bit of a shock to him that there wasn't a homogenous view on such issues in the group.

GC is right, there are some junior academics (and some who have never grown up) who think it’s ok to mark according to ‘correct’ political opinion. That’s not OK, I’d always raise this as an issue. As a student, you are more powerful than you think, especially if you voice your concerns carefully and politely.

Have had a very long email back, and a recommendation to read something out out by mermaids. Think I’ll be swerving that one oddly enough.

I really really can't bear it. Can someone tell me what is the point of a humanities degree if it doesn't teach critical thinking? Seriously what is the point?

@Magpiemavis

Have had a very long email back, and a recommendation to read something out out by mermaids. Think I’ll be swerving that one oddly enough.

Ask them for an academic, peer-reviewed source.

Just as they would expect your to provide in your essay.

Actually, I think I would complain to the department. They are pushing propaganda, and operating well beyond their professional remit.

I have no idea whether or not to respond to her, even if it is literally just to point out I don’t share her opinion. The response was a long list of reasons why JK Rowling was a transphobe, with the overarching tone being that of course I would agree with her on this.

If you do respond, I'd wait a bit at least before doing so.

I might take a look at Counterweight which is Helen Pluckrose's organisation set up to support GC and others challenging workplace indoctrination. They might be able to offer support or advice. HP is an academic.

Honestly, I wouldn't bother with her any more. But I would make a complaint to the department or the regular lecturer. As JoodyBlue points out, a humanities degree should foster critical thinking, not act as an opportunity for an activist to proselytise, citing dubious sources, while you get charged £9k for the privilege.

@Magpiemavis

Have had a very long email back, and a recommendation to read something out out by mermaids. Think I’ll be swerving that one oddly enough.

So they have compounded the error? That's not good. Do you feel up to escalating it to management?

At least it wasn't the Katie Monthomerie essay :)

Montgomerie

There’s absolutely no way I would do this (as a fellow student). Much as I might disagree, obviously, because she isn’t, it’s just not worth the aggro in the ridiculously woke-left environment that is higher education. I need a good grade

I have recently returned to university after a long gap. When I was at university the first time round, healthy debate was encouraged and people listened to opposing views without being constantly offended, which gave a broader understanding. This is no longer the case and you have to be extremely careful what you say, which I find really sad. Students today are bombarded with 'Woke' agendas which shut down all other forms of thinking. I don't think I would be brave enough to challenge a lecturer or the university as would fear it could backfire.

Academics and students, do you hear what you are saying? Why are there no mass walk outs? Sit down demos demanding freedom of thought? Students are customers here? Prof Stock's OBE this year might give some confidence. I'm sorry but I don't believe what I'm reading. What are you paying your £££ for? I apologise if I seem belligerent but putting up with it is part of the problem.

I would report him to the colleges/uni for hate speech and misogyny
This. Don’t let him (or her) get away with some mumbled excuse. Make a formal complaint and say you’re offended.

@Magpiemavis

I have no idea whether or not to respond to her, even if it is literally just to point out I don’t share her opinion. The response was a long list of reasons why JK Rowling was a transphobe, with the overarching tone being that of course I would agree with her on this.

What a knobber she is. I genuinely don't know what I would do in your situation. What is your personal tutor like? Or is there anyone on your student council or equalities department that you feel able to raise the issue with? Mermaids is absolutely not a 'scholarly source' and has no place in a lecture or communication with a fellow scholar and don't forget get you are a scholar as well.

I'd be tempted to search your university library for peer reviewed articles of Mermaids then when you can't find any, email back saying you can't find anything re Mermaids could she send her sources over so that you can do some further reading. All done out of interest of course.

I absolutely would not recommend op take this further if she wants to complete her degree.
I’m currently studying an MA and they ALL openly discuss terfs, I’m called cis without question, open discussions about disgusting transphobia (dissenters from their opinion) - I’m required to put pronouns on introductions.
A particularly harrowing module concerning violence by men against women was hijacked by a biological female - but non binary student- who presents as male, pronouns they - them.
We were giving a warning at the beginning to be nice’ and that they’ were finding it very difficult that the sex they present as was being represented so negatively. At the end they were provided a platform to talk about how they are the real victims. They have never experienced actual violence, but they feel it around them and the potential is there.

That is just the first module.
It goes in and on and on.

@Magpiemavis

If you expose a problem, you pose a problem

Is this a hill you’re prepared to die on ?
You won’t receive any support.