Edinburgh University has issued guidance to students on how they can create a more inclusive environment.
Originally issued in March, the guidance was reissued after students at the university shared their experiences about being mocked for having regional accents or a working-class background.
In a post on the university website, students were given advice on how to counteract “socio-economic microaggressions” which included telling students to not be a “snob”.
Students were also encouraged to ask others about their “interests,” rather than “quizzing them on their background.”
When speaking to The Student, one student said: “This happens all the time, people would rather know where I went to school so they can figure out whether they want to be friends with me. They don’t get that it is rude and irritating to people who did not go to private schools.” The student added: “who knows, maybe it also annoys people to did go to private school, either way, I’d like it to stop.”
Despite the university being in Scotland, over 70% of students come from England. In addition, though they represent only 7% of the UK population, private school students make up 40% of Edinburgh University’s student body.
When approached for comment, the Edinburgh University office released the following statement:
“We are incredibly proud of our diverse community and work hard to create an environment that eliminates discrimination and allows all of our students to have the best experience possible during their studies. Our Dignity and Respect policy sets out clear expectations of behaviour, including recognising when comments or behaviour may be harmful or upsetting to others and acting accordingly.”
Student outlets like The Edinburgh Tab have faced similar backlash for promoting rhetoric suggesting, for instance, that “God intended” for there to be fewer Scottish students at the university.
There are clubs at the university which intend to address this, recently the Scottish Social Mobility Society (SMSS) was formed. Others include the 93% club.
When speaking The Student, one member of SMSS did not believe the university’s newly issued guidance would have an effect. The member said the guidance “fails to mention any support of those who essentially feel unwelcome and out of place at the university”.
They added: “the guidance comes off as rather patronising and fails to address the embedded issues that lay within the institution.”
They expressed concerns that the advice would sit in the “backrooms of the university website” and have little to no effect on genuine campus culture.
“File:Old College, University of Edinburgh (24923171570).jpg” by LWYang from USA is licensed under CC BY 2.0.