Posted on Mar 18, 2021
Student banned from university union saying ‘Rule Britannia’ in debate
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Apparently idiotic wokeness is as contagious as COVID19
A student said she was banned for two weeks from her university union for saying “Rule Britannia” during a debate about the British Army.
Elizabeth Heverin, 19, said she was told by officials at Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) that she was temporarily banned from all students’ union buildings, debates and services for using “discriminatory or racist language”.
International students were asked during an online meeting in December if the presence of military personnel on campus would make them feel uncomfortable due to links of colonialism.
Ms Heverin asked in the accompanying webchat: “If the British military makes them feel uncomfortable why did they come to a British uni?”
A disciplinary investigation was launched after an attendee later lodged a formal complaint to the students’ union authorities about Ms Heverin’s comments.
Union officials were unable to determine whether there was “deliberate racist content” but they said the language Ms Heverin used, in particular the phrase “Rule, Britannia”, could be “construed as potentially discriminatory”.
They also found that the 19-year-old student breached three parts of the bylaw by failing to “conduct herself in a manner that shall not offend others and shall not use foul and abusive language, either orally, in writing or by expression or by engaging in any form of discriminatory or anti-social behaviour”.
Ms Heverin told The Telegraph: “It feels like I’ve been prosecuted for the crime of being patriotic.
“It’s scary to think where freedom of speech at the university will go from here.”
The AUSA meeting resolved to overturn the policy banning military organisations and personnel from AUSA buildings or events.
It comes after reports that the song Rule, Britannia could be dropped from the Proms sparked a row in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests.
Organisers were said to be looking to provide a more inclusive running order after several weeks of protests and a re-examination of parts of the UK's colonial legacy.
Following the row, Rule, Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory were sung by a small choir at the 2020 Last Night of the Proms.
A student said she was banned for two weeks from her university union for saying “Rule Britannia” during a debate about the British Army.
Elizabeth Heverin, 19, said she was told by officials at Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) that she was temporarily banned from all students’ union buildings, debates and services for using “discriminatory or racist language”.
International students were asked during an online meeting in December if the presence of military personnel on campus would make them feel uncomfortable due to links of colonialism.
Ms Heverin asked in the accompanying webchat: “If the British military makes them feel uncomfortable why did they come to a British uni?”
A disciplinary investigation was launched after an attendee later lodged a formal complaint to the students’ union authorities about Ms Heverin’s comments.
Union officials were unable to determine whether there was “deliberate racist content” but they said the language Ms Heverin used, in particular the phrase “Rule, Britannia”, could be “construed as potentially discriminatory”.
They also found that the 19-year-old student breached three parts of the bylaw by failing to “conduct herself in a manner that shall not offend others and shall not use foul and abusive language, either orally, in writing or by expression or by engaging in any form of discriminatory or anti-social behaviour”.
Ms Heverin told The Telegraph: “It feels like I’ve been prosecuted for the crime of being patriotic.
“It’s scary to think where freedom of speech at the university will go from here.”
The AUSA meeting resolved to overturn the policy banning military organisations and personnel from AUSA buildings or events.
It comes after reports that the song Rule, Britannia could be dropped from the Proms sparked a row in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests.
Organisers were said to be looking to provide a more inclusive running order after several weeks of protests and a re-examination of parts of the UK's colonial legacy.
Following the row, Rule, Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory were sung by a small choir at the 2020 Last Night of the Proms.
Student banned from university union saying ‘Rule Britannia’ in debate
Posted from standard.co.uk
England
Political Correctness
College
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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In my view, Lt Col Charlie Brown, this has become a disgusting sickness of our Educational institutions by not following Our United States Constitution, who are seemingly setting up rules and regulations counter to our inalienable rights as citizens!!!
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SSG Robert Perrotto
Your observation would be a factual statement, IF, the educational institution was, indeed, a US university. Alas, this is British, and we gave up caring what the Brits do 250 odd years ago.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Aberdeen University is in Scotland so their aversion to the term Rule Britannia is understandable.
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God Help Us! Thank You Lt Col Charlie Brown
FoS is at the very core of our freedoms. Without it we are truly only along for the ride. Much of the Bill of Rights were inspired by a long history of hard-fought law in England/Britain. Was it all for naught?
FoS is at the very core of our freedoms. Without it we are truly only along for the ride. Much of the Bill of Rights were inspired by a long history of hard-fought law in England/Britain. Was it all for naught?
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"Union officials were unable to determine whether there was “deliberate racist content” but they said the language Ms Heverin used, in particular the phrase “Rule, Britannia”, could be “construed as potentially discriminatory”." This, right here, is the biggest problem. "We don't know, but....maybe? We're gonna treat it like it was. Just to play it safe."
Toughen up, buttercup. Life is hard. Wear a helmet.
Toughen up, buttercup. Life is hard. Wear a helmet.
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