Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poem
Community chat for current Cambridge students and alumni.
-
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Respected Member
- Posts: 243
Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemIf true (which it seems like it is), this is outrageous.
-
- Reputation:
- Exalted and Worshipped Member
- Location: Leeds
- Posts: 1,308
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemfrankly I think what the PHD student was childish. It was hardly "peaceful" to hijack a speech by yelling out a poem and not allowing the target to have any word in. Probably would of worked better if they'd allowed him to speak first. would have at least made them seem more mature -
- Reputation:
- Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
- Posts: 3,563
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemRegardless, 2.5 years suspension is a bit excessive. One or two terms, I could understand. This is just going too far.(Original post by Kenny_uk)
frankly I think what the PHD student was childish. It was hardly "peaceful" to hijack a speech by yelling out a poem and not allowing the target to have any word in. Probably would of worked better if they'd allowed him to speak first. would have at least made them seem more mature -
- Reputation:
- Exalted and Worshipped Member
- Location: Leeds
- Posts: 1,308
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemOh I don't disagree, I was speechless at that part. it's freaking brutal. I certainly hope he won't be paying fee's during that entire suspension period(Original post by gethsemane342)
Regardless, 2.5 years suspension is a bit excessive. One or two terms, I could understand. This is just going too far. -
- Reputation:
- Exalted Member
- Posts: 304
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemAhaha true that! e-highfive!(Original post by Joinedup)
It sounds like the poem says 'you may imprison us, you may break our bones' so it seems like he got off lightly by his own terms. -
- Reputation:
- Benevolent Member
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemWell deserved. He should understand that it is a privilege and not a right to study at a University. If he wants to engage in some petty, 'right on' behaviour then he shouldn't be surprised when a private institution decides to throw the book at him.
-
- Reputation:
- Peer Of The TSR Realm
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poem??(Original post by Anna_Karenina)
Well deserved. He should understand that it is a privilege and not a right to study at a University. If he wants to engage in some petty, 'right on' behaviour then he shouldn't be surprised when a private institution decides to throw the book at him.
-
- Reputation:
- TSR Idol
- Posts: 8,179
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemI'm not sure we have the full story
Its a publicly funded private institution. Members of the public aren't allowed on university grounds without permission, for example.(Original post by FinalMH)
??
EDIT: They are more accountable for their actions that a privately funded institution though.Last edited by nexttime; 16-03-2012 at 11:04. -
- Reputation:
- Benevolent Member
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poem(Original post by FinalMH)
??
What nexttime said. -
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Location: Manchester
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemI was there at the Willetts thing (not as part of the movement), and I thought it was one of the stupidest things I'd ever seen. Fair enough not to agree with what Willetts stands for, but stopping him speaking and then complaining about free speech rights is ridiculous.
The punishment is a bit too severe, but surely he knew that there would be some kind of reaction by the university?
He might have just been unlucky - I can't help but think that the severity of his punishment might be something to do with the recent Dominique Strauss-Kahn kerfuffle.Last edited by Angela_Beth; 16-03-2012 at 11:06. -
- Reputation:
- Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
- Posts: 3,563
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemI don't think it's the punishment in and of itself that people are objecting to. They're objecting because:(Original post by Angela_Beth)
I was there at the Willetts thing (not as part of the movement), and I thought it was one of the stupidest things I'd ever seen. Fair enough not to agree with what Willetts stands for, but stopping him speaking and then complaining about free speech rights is ridiculous.
The punishment is a bit too severe, but surely he knew that there would be some kind of reaction by the university?
He might have just been unlucky - I can't help but think that the severity of his punishment might be something to do with the recent Dominique Strauss-Kahn kerfuffle.
1) 60 people owned up to being involved in the poem. Only 1 person was punished. Why weren't the other 59 punished - even if they had a slightly lesser role, they were involved in the event.
2) In addition to this, the punishment is excessive. A punishment of one term was recommended to the court. I don't think anyone except the judge in the room seriously thought it would go to 2.5 years.
What CDE did was stupid and wrong - they should have called Willetts out in his Q and A session if they'd wanted a proper debate, not prevented him from speaking. The Uni probably does want to make it clear this behaviour won't be tolerated. But what it's done is singled out one student arbitrarily and punished him excessively - people would have accepted it if they'd punished all of those involved or given a lesser punishment. -
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Respected Member
- Posts: 243
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemCambridge University receives public funds.(Original post by Anna_Karenina)
Well deserved. He should understand that it is a privilege and not a right to study at a University. If he wants to engage in some petty, 'right on' behaviour then he shouldn't be surprised when a private institution decides to throw the book at him.
-
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Respected Member
- Posts: 243
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemEven the university advocate proposed a rustication for one term or perhaps a fine. A suspension of nearly three years can destroy a life.(Original post by alexsasg)
I think he should have allowed Willetts to speak first (even if he is an idiot), and then attacked his argument.
Although the Cambridge punishment is OTT, in my opinion anyway.
A correct way to deal with the disruption to the ministerial visit would have been for the proctors to ask the student to shut up. If he refused, they should have removed him. Perhaps a minor *******ing from his senior tutor would have been in order.
That's about it.Last edited by sohoscribbler; 16-03-2012 at 17:06. -
- Reputation:
- TSR Demigod
- Posts: 7,494
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemI prolly sound harsher than I intended.(Original post by O'Donovan)
Ahaha true that! e-highfive!
The punishment seems excessive at face value... I sort of wonder if he's got a track record of ****y, self righteous disruptiveness and was already riding an informal warning about it.
Don't suppose you get to appeal one of those? -
- Reputation:
- TSR Idol
- Location: Wellington
- Warning points: 10
Re: Cambridge PhD student sent down for reading a poemnot to nit pick but wasnt he rusticated not sent down?
but none the less complete and utter disgrace, considering its meant to one of the worlds premier institutions of higher learning and as such promoting freedom of speech and higher intellect but it seems only when it doesnt embarrass them, disgrace.
