Warwick University ‘racist banana incident’ leads to national student survey on racism

Almost 1,500 people sign petition saying Warwick 'must be held accountable for racism within its walls'

Warwick University, pictured, says it 'abhors any form of racism, harassment, and discrimination'

Student newspapers from across the UK have joined together to launch a national survey in order to gather information into on-campus racism after an alleged incident at Warwick University escalated on Twitter this week.

Launched by Warwick student newspaper, the Boar, the survey aims to record students’ experiences of racism in “a collaborative attempt” to gauge the frequency and extent of such incidents on campuses nationwide.

The survey also hopes to gain an insight into how they were dealt with by university management and students’ unions.

The investigation has been launched in response to a tweet which surfaced on Tuesday from Warwick biomedical science student, 19-year-old Faramade Ifaturoti, who posted an image of a bunch of bananas which had two offensive terms scrawled on them in black marker.

Accompanying the image, she wrote: “Just entered the kitchen and look at what one of my flatmates has [allegedly] done. I am extremely disgusted.”

The tweet was shared thousands of times, after which the university said it would be investigating the incident “as a matter of urgency.” Shortly after, a solidarity campaign entitled #WeStandWithFara begin to trend on social media.

The survey:

The team at the Boar told the Independent in a statement it was “shocked” by the nationally-reported incident at the university, and said the paper decided to contact as many student publications from across the UK as possible in “a nationwide attempt to investigate the true nature of racism at universities.”

The statement continued: “We are currently releasing online surveys to the student population asking about their experiences of racism at university and its prevalence.

“This is to be followed by FoI requests to UK universities regarding the number of reported racist incidents on campuses, and access to university for BME students and academics.

“We are already finding a worrying percentage of racial abuse goes unreported and that there are unclear or non-existent channels for reporting such abuses.”

On Thursday, Warwick’s Anti-Racism Society (WARSoc) thanked all who had signed its online petition which called for the university to “be held accountable for racism within its walls” after almost 1,500 people signed it.

Along with a list of demands the society said it would be presenting the university and students’ union with, the group added: “We will be going directly to the University of Warwick to act on our campaigns. The petition...demonstrates that we are committed to destroying racism.”

In a joint statement from the university, deputy registrar, Jo Horsburgh, and pro-vice-chancellor (research) and chair of the Equality and Diversity Committee, Professor Pam Thomas, said they were in contact with Ms Ifaturoti to ensure she had “full access to the breadth of student support services” on offer.

The statement added how a senior member of the university’s Residential Life Team and the head of Student Support Services were also in contact with the student, and added: “She has been offered alternative accommodation in a number of other locations on campus.

“Support is also being offered to those others impacted by the incident.”

The pair continued: “We take the promotion of equality, diversity, and inclusion very seriously, and it concerns all of us.

“It is expected that we will all contribute to ensuring that the University of Warwick continues to be a safe, welcoming, and productive environment, where there is equality of opportunity, fostered in an environment of mutual respect and dignity.”

Student newspapers at universities currently involved in the survey include Warwick, Southampton, University College London, Cardiff, Durham, and Manchester as well as several others.

Other student publications looking to get involved are being urged to contact the Boar team by emailing news@theboar.org.