Peter Mathieson, infamous principal of the University of Edinburgh and trained kidney specialist, seemingly needs to diagnose himself for his chronic symptom of talking a load of pish. His most recent prattlings on 6 October came in the form of an email to every student’s inbox denouncing “attempts to justify or glorify acts of gratuitous violence” regarding the demonstration planned for the following day.
This gathering marked the second anniversary of the 7 October attacks against Israel, and the subsequent genocide of the Palestinian people. It was a refreshing rally of students and staff mourning every innocent life lost whilst condemning Israel’s war crimes, including representatives from many societies of the “Student Coalition for Palestine.” The idea of a “united community” that is stitched throughout Mathieson’s prescribed monologue could be tangibly found outside the University library, a community unequivocally opposed to him. Every corner of the University has shunned Mathieson, to the extent that the Student Union had a 95 per cent vote of no confidence for him in December 2023.
Peter Mathieson can be called nothing but a hypocrite, endorsing his “advoca[cy] for peace” whilst he and his senate have the power to redirect the reported £25 million they’ve invested into pro-Israeli companies, which has made the University one of the “most financially entangled establishments” in the ongoing genocide. Furthermore, he asks for support for University staff amidst major staff cutting schemes – Mathieson doesn’t care who is “directly or indirectly affected” by his decisions. His transparent words of well-wishes in the email only feign empathy, while no genuine effort is made for anyone.
Demonstration on the anniversary of the 7 October attacks is undeniably controversial. Yet whilst some labelled them as “celebrations” of Israeli deaths, the protest in Edinburgh was a peaceful, but reasonably rage-filled reflection of deaths that are still ongoing, including recent antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks across the UK. In a time where legitimate criticism of a government, committing genocide (per UN reports), is supposedly antisemitic, Mathieson’s email only further stokes the falsehood of peaceful demonstrations being something to fear. In reality, it is his email that was sent out of a fearful necessity – the only thing that can disturb his purposeful inactivity. Whilst Mathieson is no doubt patting himself on the back for this rare bout of unhelpful animation, a united culture exists here that is steadily fighting to break the piggy bank he is a slave to.
Photo by Ross Doran for The Student
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Peter Mathieson’s October 7 email: spineless as ever
Peter Mathieson, infamous principal of the University of Edinburgh and trained kidney specialist, seemingly needs to diagnose himself for his chronic symptom of talking a load of pish. His most recent prattlings on 6 October came in the form of an email to every student’s inbox denouncing “attempts to justify or glorify acts of gratuitous violence” regarding the demonstration planned for the following day.
This gathering marked the second anniversary of the 7 October attacks against Israel, and the subsequent genocide of the Palestinian people. It was a refreshing rally of students and staff mourning every innocent life lost whilst condemning Israel’s war crimes, including representatives from many societies of the “Student Coalition for Palestine.” The idea of a “united community” that is stitched throughout Mathieson’s prescribed monologue could be tangibly found outside the University library, a community unequivocally opposed to him. Every corner of the University has shunned Mathieson, to the extent that the Student Union had a 95 per cent vote of no confidence for him in December 2023.
Peter Mathieson can be called nothing but a hypocrite, endorsing his “advoca[cy] for peace” whilst he and his senate have the power to redirect the reported £25 million they’ve invested into pro-Israeli companies, which has made the University one of the “most financially entangled establishments” in the ongoing genocide. Furthermore, he asks for support for University staff amidst major staff cutting schemes – Mathieson doesn’t care who is “directly or indirectly affected” by his decisions. His transparent words of well-wishes in the email only feign empathy, while no genuine effort is made for anyone.
Demonstration on the anniversary of the 7 October attacks is undeniably controversial. Yet whilst some labelled them as “celebrations” of Israeli deaths, the protest in Edinburgh was a peaceful, but reasonably rage-filled reflection of deaths that are still ongoing, including recent antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks across the UK. In a time where legitimate criticism of a government, committing genocide (per UN reports), is supposedly antisemitic, Mathieson’s email only further stokes the falsehood of peaceful demonstrations being something to fear. In reality, it is his email that was sent out of a fearful necessity – the only thing that can disturb his purposeful inactivity. Whilst Mathieson is no doubt patting himself on the back for this rare bout of unhelpful animation, a united culture exists here that is steadily fighting to break the piggy bank he is a slave to.
Photo by Ross Doran for The Student
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