10,000 signatures reached
To: Professor Irene Tracey, Vice Chancellor of Oxford University
Protect Black Students - Stop Nathan Cofnas speaking at Oxford University
Cancel Nathan Cofnas’ invitation to speak, or immediately halt the event until you publish a fully transparent risk assessment, launch an independent review, and guarantee cast-iron safeguards for Black students and staff.
Why is this important?
Cofnas is not simply a critic of diversity policy. He is a self-described “race realist” who argues that genes contribute to racial group differences in intelligence. Contemporary genetics has rejected the scientific racism and eugenics which Cofnas draws upon. He has claimed that in a meritocracy “the number of black professors would approach 0%.”
He also publicly questioned Professor Jason Arday’s appointment, asking whether Cambridge believed “the only way to have black professors is to abandon all standards.” An inquest into Professor Arday’s death is ongoing. Out of respect for that process and for his family, we say no more.
Reform UK claims recent revelations of racism in its ranks concern a few “bad apples.” Yet its Oxford society is willing to promote racist ideas. Ideas platformed at Oxford do not stay in the lecture theatre. They travel through social media and political debate, carrying the University’s authority.
We value academic freedom. But free speech does not extinguish duties under the Equality Act 2010, including the Public Sector Equality Duty. Nor does it remove responsibility for the safety and welfare of Black students and staff.
Oriel College says it “abhors racism and discrimination in all its forms.” To live by those words, it should cancel this event. Failing that it should at least postpone it pending a full written response to the following:
- Publish the event risk assessment: Oriel College must explain how it has considered its equality duties, safeguarding responsibilities and the welfare of students and staff. Publish it by 6 November, redacted where necessary.
- Safeguard Black students and staff: Take meaningful steps to protect Black students and staff, including clear arrangements for reporting racist incidents and engagement with Black student organisations to address concerns ahead of the event.
- Commission an independent review: Review how the decision to host this event was made and what lessons should be learned, with Black student organisations involved in the process and the findings made public.
We request an urgent public response. If the event goes ahead, we support a demonstration opposing the event on 17 November.
This petition has been started by Oxford Students' Coalition Against Racism with the support of Black Lives Matter UK, Every Day Racism and Stand Up to Racism (sign up to SUTR mailing list here).
