‘Don’t be a snob!’ Edinburgh University tells rich students not to judge poorer classmates’ accents
Edinburgh University has warned students from privileged backgrounds not to be “snobs” to their state-educated peers.
The university admitted class-related prejudice is a problem on campus and those from poorer backgrounds are being “inadvertently or deliberately shamed by more privileged students”.
Guidance issued by the university said those affected included students admitted under its widening participation programme, under which entry requirements are lowered for school leavers from deprived areas. Examples of shaming included comments about clothing and “lack of knowledge or regional accent”.
An unnamed widening access student, quoted in the guidance, said they had been told by their peers “you can’t be working class because you’re at university”.
“We were discussing inheritance tax in class and people have explicitly said that they have more money because they ‘just worked harder’,” the student said.
‘An inclusive environment’
The guidance provided wealthier students with a list of actions they can take to “counteract socioeconomic microaggressions and create an inclusive environment”.
They included “don’t be a snob!” and “when you meet new people, be curious about their interests and aspirations rather than their backgrounds”.
Two other points stated “don’t assume that everyone’s life or family is like yours”, and “try to undo some of the unhelpful mythology about the relationship of wealth to intelligence or hard work”.
Scottish students mocked
The Sunday Times Scotland disclosed that the guidance had been issued after the newly-formed Scottish Social Mobility Society (SSMS) complained that lecturers and students regularly mock and mimic individuals from north of the Border.
The SSMS claims to have received more than 200 reports of incidents where state school-educated students were ridiculed or patronised because of their accents and backgrounds.
Shanley Breese, 20, the society president and a fourth-year law student who was educated at a state school in Dumfries, said they must be taken seriously.
After being made aware of the concerns, the university issued the guidance on how to “counteract socioeconomic microaggressions”. Staff will also receive training on accent bias.
A ‘massive advantage’
The guidance stated that 6 per cent of the UK population comes from an “elite group” with a “wealthy and privileged background”.
They have a “massive advantage over others”, it said, and a “much greater chance of becoming financially successful and (to) take on leadership positions – regardless of educational attainment.”
The guidance advised students to think “about your place in the socioeconomic spectrum before” starting their course.
The university recognises “that people from lower socioeconomic groups often don’t have the same level of support and encouragement to go to university despite being extremely academically capable”, it said.
Being ‘othered’
Referring to students admitted under the widening participation programme, it said: “We found they were often unprepared for the experience of being ‘othered’ because of their background, leading to a strong sense that they did not ‘belong’ at the university.”
The university’s students’ association plans to recruit a widening participation officer, to represent individuals from underprivileged backgrounds.
A university spokesman said: “We are incredibly proud of our diverse community and work hard to create an environment that eliminates discrimination and allows all of our students to have the best experience possible during their studies.
“Our Dignity and Respect policy sets out clear expectations of behaviour, including recognising when comments or behaviour may be harmful or upsetting to others and acting accordingly.”