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Leeds lecturer in racism row
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
What do you make of this......
Campus storm over 'racist' don
Leeds University refuses to sack a lecturer accused of a slur against black people, citing his right to free speech
Anushka Asthana and Jessica Salter
Sunday March 5, 2006
The Observer
Students and lecturers are calling for a Leeds University don to be sacked after he said he supported a theory that black people were inferior to whites.
In a row that has reignited the debate on the limits of freedom of speech, Frank Ellis, a lecturer in Russian and Slavonic studies, sparked anger after stating, in an interview with the university's student newspaper, that he was an 'unrepentant Powellite' who thought that the BNP was 'a bit too socialist' for his liking.
Ellis said he supported right-wing ideas such as the Bell Curve theory, which held that white people were more intelligent than black people. '[It] has demonstrated to me beyond any reasonable doubt there is a persistent gap in average black and white average intelligence.' Repatriation would get his support, he added, if it was done 'humanely'.
Campus storm over 'racist' don
Leeds University refuses to sack a lecturer accused of a slur against black people, citing his right to free speech
Anushka Asthana and Jessica Salter
Sunday March 5, 2006
The Observer
Students and lecturers are calling for a Leeds University don to be sacked after he said he supported a theory that black people were inferior to whites.
In a row that has reignited the debate on the limits of freedom of speech, Frank Ellis, a lecturer in Russian and Slavonic studies, sparked anger after stating, in an interview with the university's student newspaper, that he was an 'unrepentant Powellite' who thought that the BNP was 'a bit too socialist' for his liking.
Ellis said he supported right-wing ideas such as the Bell Curve theory, which held that white people were more intelligent than black people. '[It] has demonstrated to me beyond any reasonable doubt there is a persistent gap in average black and white average intelligence.' Repatriation would get his support, he added, if it was done 'humanely'.
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Comments
Case closed. Move along. Nothing to see here.
Which I suppose has ended the matter.
I think Jim might have been referring to my post above.
Tbh I think it is quite disgraceful to force (or bribe?) an academic into retirement for expressing controversial views. There were as far as I can see no claims against Dr. Ellis relating to him being unable to properly fulfil his work duties because of his views. He was quite simply hounded out of his job for exercising his right of freedom of expression. (A freedom that unfortunately does not exist in Britain). If you ban controversial views from universities you ridicule and undermine academics and the actual institutions..
I do not really know much about the Bell Curve theory but I believe it points out that some ethnic groups generally have higher IQ scores than other ethnic groups. Assuming this is true I am guessing Dr Ellis' crime was not pointing out the flaws to IQ tests and making generalisations? Is it racist too in itself to point out that overall students from Indian and Chinese backgrounds do better at GCSE than students from Pakistani backgrounds? I suppose it depends upon what conclusions are drawn...Either way Leeds Uni has discredited itself. What happened to freedom of speech and academic freedom?
It confirms what I thought, which is that the uNiversity have fudged it.
Yep supporting discredited academic nonsense is how we discuss issues and sometimes find out what was discredited is actually true. Now I have no idea whether the Bell curve is discredited or not - but I certainly think that people should be able to discuss it. Otherwise all we get is 'group' think.
Or "Das Kapital" ?
I'd certainly wouldn't argue against them being taught - though I'd prob think the lecturer was wrong. (and to be fair given all the evidence against it I can't imagine anyone being able to say the the Protocols is a book detailing actual Jewish practices). But you either have academic freedom or not - you can't have freedom just to discuss some issues.
I'd have no problem with them being taught either - as long as all the facts are given. Academic freedom does not include the right to teach things that are discredited as if they are correct.
Facts ? Think the union may call for more "resources" if facts are needed for academia. There seems to be a scarcity issue here
I'd agree with that
Agree with that as well