No, not as you may expect from a pro-Brexiter, a defence of Imperial measures, here I am referring to the latest news from Imperial College London about the implementation of their policy regarding microaggressions. At the outset I must say that I am with Scottish comedian Leo Kearse who, when asking his audience rhetorically what a microaggression was, said it was an aggression so small you shouldn’t give a **** about it.
Universities seem to be tripping over themselves these days to see who can win the ‘woke university of the year’ award. It all seems to have started at the University of Sheffield with their list of ludicrous examples of microaggressions such as (take your pick): ‘I love spicy food/I hate spicy food’ either of which could offend a Mexican, Indian or Nigerian student. On the microaggression front, The University of Edinburgh was also quick off the mark with its own general list of microaggressions and then a list specific to transgender people of ‘microinsults’ which told lecturers not to refer to transgender people as ‘trannies’. Did they really need to be told? The University of Hull, yet to catch up on the microaggression front achieved a rare mention in the national press by announcing that correct spelling and good grammar were no longer requirements in student work for fear of discriminating against students whose first language was not English or whose educational achievements were low. I am guessing that somewhere behind the thinking at Hull lay the thought that to help such students with their English by, Heaven help us, correcting their English and expecting them to do better next time, would constitute a microaggression.
Not to be outdone, Imperial College London have entered the microaggression fray combined with the use of language fray by issuing a list of microaggressions whereby staff are specifically forbidden from complimenting international students if their use of English is good. You read that right the first time: if their use of English is good. Examples of relevant microaggressions include: “You’re so articulate” or “you speak English so well” which, presumably, indicate a predilection towards the expectation of low standards. All that from within a nation where, if any of us can order a pint of beer in Spain in Spanish, we consider ourselves grade A linguists. Then there is a special heading on the Myth of Meritocracy which precludes saying, for example, in an appointments process: “I believe the most qualified person should get the job. We need excellence!” I really thought here that someone must be taking the academic mickey (incidentally, not a microaggression against Irish people) but it’s for real. Unbelievable. I am not sure under what general heading the next pile of steaming microaggression came, but the following scenario was described as wrong: “An Academic assigns a Black post-doctoral student to escort a visiting scientist of the same race even though there are other non-Black scientists in this person’s specific area of research.” I agree one hundred percent that this is wrong, my only question is: has this ever happened? I think that someone somewhere in the Inhuman Resources department at Imperial has too much time on their hands and must spend their time scraping the barrel of credulity to justify their existence.
If all this is true then I am guilty of microaggression under the framework proposed by Imperial College and have many times flaunted, and will continue to do so, the code of practice at Hull*. I am constantly bowled over by the quality of writing from my international research students, their willingness both to learn to write better English and to accommodate any deficiencies by seeking help with writing and editing their submitted work. They ask, specifically about their use of English and I can only exhibit microaggression by congratulating them. Moreover, I will continue to correct their use of English and will never cease to point out grammatical errors common among many students of Far East and South Asian origin who omit or confuse the use of definite and indefinite articles. They express the wish to improve their use of English and I help them. If they do not express such a wish, I will still help them. When they do well, I will tell them, whether or not they ask. I see the gates of the university re-education camp looming up on the horizon.
*the author teaches at the University of Hull
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