London Metropolitan University, commonly referred to as London Met, is one of these 'new' universities which sprang up after the demise of technical colleges and has been offering further education for 10 years. It boasts to being in the top 10 most popular universities in England for international students.
London Met has offices in Bangladesh, China, India, Nigeria and Pakistan and attracts students from 190 countries.
One-fifth of the university's students are Muslim and of those the majority are women. Professor Malcolm Gillies is considering banning the sale of alcohol from some parts of the campus because a 'high percentage' of students consider drinking 'immoral'. He goes on to say:
"Because there's no majority ethnic group, I think it [selling alcohol] is playing to particular parts of our society much more [than to others]".
I was always under the impression that UK universities were liberal establishments which offered our young people the opportunity to learn and make personal choices.
If alcohol is removed from campuses because it offends a minority, how long will it be before certain foods are banned because they are culturally insensitive to certain ethnic groups?
It would seem sex on campus may be next on the professor's banned list. It wouldn't surprise me if some of his students renamed him Killjoy.
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A thin veneer of a democracy which allows minorities to hold sway over a far greater majority. The subjugation of the many for the benefit of the few.
Why do we put up with this?
I wonder when Professor Gillies will introduce a rule that all female students wear a burqa, again to eliminate the risk of offending certain other students?
All visitors to this country must be reminded of the principle "When in Rome...."
Maybe it's a move that will allow him to market the Uni to more muslim students from the middle east etc.
London Met had to repay £36m to the Funding council due to 'irregularities' in 2009 and are strapped for cash. The children's nursery (sic) was recently closed as it was draining them of cash.
He left City Uni unknown circumstances before taking up his new post.
I find meat slaughtered by the halal and kosher methods immoral, put that is my personal opinion so I refrain from eating meat so labelled. But I wouldn't ban its availability to adherents of the particular religions.
RMcG
From Rosie's Torygraph link:-
"Professor Gillies said ..... Many of its female Muslim students "can only really go to university within four miles of home and have to be delivered and picked up by a close male relative" "
However, I take your point that it's a plausible 'Marketing' idea simply to increase potential revenue.
Once again, those living in ivy covered towers showing themselves to be devoid of all sense of reality and a total failing to understanding what happens in the ‘real’ world.
Had London Met been promoting ‘moderation in all things’ then they would have won my support – but an outright ban only deserves ridicule.
I don't understand why either TT.
If only Joe, if only.
Ah, so he has a past then RM. I did think it was more of a PR stunt than a sensible decision.
Brian, I have yet to see labelled meat. It's not deemed necessary say the EU.
Sadly it will possibly happen JRB. Then others will follow if they want to attract foreign students.
Is the hootsman in trouble ,comments not allowed and the sunday paper had "news" from the week before ?
Many local Moslem students spend their spare time at Rileys Snooker hall because it is behind closed doors and has a bar.
footdee..
Yes the Hootsmon is in a bit of bother. It's backing for Labour has cost it thousands of readers and they sacked the editor in chief, Mr McLellan last week. I used to enjoy the paper but it's dire now with it's hatred of the SNP.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/12/scotsman-editor-in-chief-johnston-press
Thanks RMcg
I think the Hootsmon's been in trouble for a while footdee. The comments have been disallowed for around a week now. They say it's a technical hitch.
That doesn't surprise me banned. Out of sight...
Ah RM, thanks for that. It is dire right enough.
Iirc for many years, possibly even now, lampeter university didn't have a union bar as it was in a dry town. It was a good reason not to go but I don't recall it being seen as a sign of political correctness gone mad!
I suspect the story is purely a story to get coverage which will help to make the university more attractive to its target market. Just as few if any Muslims are offended by Christmas trees etc etc almost all are quite capable of not being horrified at the existence of bars serving alcohol even if they don't wins to visit them themselves.
When I was studying for the Bar (soon to be renamed?) everyone wanted to sit next to a Mess of Muslim students when doing the compulsory formal dining. Each Mess of 4 got 2 bottles of wine, so sitting next to Muslims meant that you could get their wine off them. Carnage if you managed to get sandwiched between two Messes of Muslims!
It was, very possibly, a marketing ploy Botzarelli. The Prof has previous.
I know Muslims who drink alcohol but they're a younger generation. My point is that choice should be available.
I recall a similar story from some young army officers are their various dinners. Some Muslims did drink but refrained in the presence of senior officers. I believe they compensated later in privacy.
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