Jottings
Students Union is “arguing that if you
are white, you are incapable of being
‘actively anti-racist’ because you have
not experienced racism. If you haven’t
felt the pain, you can’t administer the
cure.” It continued, “This is as stupid as
refusing to be treated by a doctor unless
he himself has had the same illness that
afflicts you.”
Meanwhile, the University of Essex last
month made it mandatory for students
to attend a performance of a short play
about sexual assault and consent.
However, the demand has been criticised
by some undergraduates as being
“deeply insensitive” to victims of assault.
Comments on social media described
the play as “shock therapy” and
“patronising,” and accused the University
authorities of a “lack of thinking.”
Several noted the irony of students not
being asked for their consent to view a
production about consent and hate
crime.
The University later stated the decision
was taken after the Students Union
called for urgent changes to the way in
which accusations of sexual harassment
are handled. Essex University has
previously been accused of taking too
long to investigate such complaints.
Literary Corner
The Canonbury Tavern in London N1
has been a public house since the early
18th century. It was demolished and
rebuilt on the same site in 1846, while a
century later, George Orwell, who lived
nearby, sat under the shade of a tree in
the garden and wrote parts of his novel
1984.
Orwell’s horse-chestnut tree is now
protected, but customers who sit below it
are not – at least, not in the period when
the conkers ripen and fall to the ground.
Last autumn, a dozen people reported
being struck on the head in incidents
more reminiscent of Isaac Newton than
George Orwell.
To avoid a repetition this year, the pub’s
general manager Martyn Huntley has
minimised the threat of his clients being
inconvenienced by providing hard hats
for use by those sitting within striking
distance of an errant conker. We don’t
think that fear of falling conkers was
ever used in Room 101.
Gender Agenda
Air Canada has announced that is to stop
referring to its passengers as “ladies and
gentlemen” in order to “remove specific
references to gender.” The airline says
25
the new policy will be adopted by gate
agents, flight attendants and pilots who
have been told that it will, “ensure an
inclusive space for everyone, including
those who identify with gender X.”
Employees will greet customers using
phrases such as, “Hello, everyone,” or,
“Good evening, everyone.” This follows
the lead set by United Airlines which
become the first in the US to let
passengers identify as genders other than
male and female. British Airways, Air
New Zealand, American Airlines and
Delta have all confirmed they are
preparing to introduce more gender
options.
However, a video message on Twitter
posted by Julie Cooke, deputy chief
constable of Cheshire police, has been
branded, “bonkers, ridiculous and a
joke.”
Her Tweet was uploaded on October 16
to mark International Pronouns Day, an
annual event (now in its second year) of
which your Jottings team were blissfully
unaware until now. It’s all about making
commonplace “respecting, sharing and
educating about personal pronouns,”
according to its website.
Continued overleaf