Top Art School forced to apologise to feminist artist

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 17/06/2023 23:23

"Chief among Mr Hooson’s concerns, a statement from Mr Brundin said, was that students “could unfurl banners from the first floor” during the ceramics show."

Oh no! Everybody flee!!

Ramblingnamechanger · 18/06/2023 00:43

Well done Claire

ArabeIIaScott · 18/06/2023 09:01

Good to see.

raspberrywine · 18/06/2023 09:49

Here's the archived version:

archive.ph/2023.06.17-203514/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/17/top-arts-school-apologise-cancelling-feminist-artist/

dimorphism · 18/06/2023 09:58

This bit in UAL's weaselly statement is interesting.

"... adding that its commercial venue hire agreement did not involve decisions on invitations."

I wonder if they've lost venue hire business over this. Seems potentially important?

dimorphism · 18/06/2023 09:59

Also well done Claire. Off to Google her and find out more about her work.

dimorphism · 18/06/2023 10:02

Sorry - realized Clare is her last name. Well done Claudia!

raspberrywine · 18/06/2023 10:15

"They closed ranks and refused to speak but we now know there was no suggestion of protest at all – it was a complete fiction and based entirely on the fear of the organiser at UAL, fear of their own students.”

This just speaks volumes to me. The fear of what they could do changed his behaviour and decision.

AutumnCrow · 18/06/2023 10:29

You know, back in the day when we disagreed with the position of a speaker attending the university we would turn up, listen to the talk, and raise our hands at the end to ask our questions or make our comments.

These question sessions could get quite combative, but no-one swore, no-one got pushed or shoved, and no-one was screamed at, not even the NATO guy who had the CND Soc in the audience. He faced a bit of a Wolfie Smith rant at one point, but it was all healthy, vigorous debate.

DrBlackbird · 18/06/2023 11:46

raspberrywine · 18/06/2023 10:15

"They closed ranks and refused to speak but we now know there was no suggestion of protest at all – it was a complete fiction and based entirely on the fear of the organiser at UAL, fear of their own students.”

This just speaks volumes to me. The fear of what they could do changed his behaviour and decision.

Universities are in fear of upsetting students across a range of issues, not just this one. But let’s not forget that this is what the Tory party wanted when they no longer wished to adequately fund HE ie using student pressure to force universities to commodify HE. Indicative with the whole OfS and moving HE offerings to under the CMA. Fear of students as the consumer is what happens when HE becomes a service provider. Roles switch. We only have to look at US universities as the precursor to what is being experienced here now. Sadly, consequently, also diminishing the meaning and value of a HE to our students.

AutumnCrow · 18/06/2023 13:53

Also, the greater use of hourly-paid lecturers to cut costs meant that many departments started relying on their 'lecturers' being hourly-paid postgrads who are still essentially students. And those postgrads rely on the students they are teaching to give them excellent satisfaction responses on surveys.

So the under-pressure postgrads say whatever the students want to hear; and the students with the loudest voices seem to determine what is wanted, including 'New Biology', 'New Science', and 'New Feminism' that is devoid of material reality, data, and actual theory.

TheBiologyStupid · 19/06/2023 17:15

raspberrywine · 18/06/2023 10:15

"They closed ranks and refused to speak but we now know there was no suggestion of protest at all – it was a complete fiction and based entirely on the fear of the organiser at UAL, fear of their own students.”

This just speaks volumes to me. The fear of what they could do changed his behaviour and decision.

Absolutely. Utter cowardice - let's hope that other institutions and organisations learn a lesson from this case and grow backbones.

TheBiologyStupid · 19/06/2023 17:20

AutumnCrow · 18/06/2023 13:53

Also, the greater use of hourly-paid lecturers to cut costs meant that many departments started relying on their 'lecturers' being hourly-paid postgrads who are still essentially students. And those postgrads rely on the students they are teaching to give them excellent satisfaction responses on surveys.

So the under-pressure postgrads say whatever the students want to hear; and the students with the loudest voices seem to determine what is wanted, including 'New Biology', 'New Science', and 'New Feminism' that is devoid of material reality, data, and actual theory.

Great points.

including 'New Biology', 'New Science', and 'New Feminism' that is devoid of material reality, data, and actual theory.

To which I'd add, "actual feminism". We were promised some "new biology" on another thread the other day - luckily, no-one was holding their breath...