No . 131
The Trusty Servant
Black Lives Matter
The Bursar , Paresh Thakrar , explores diversity at Win Coll :
Summer 2020 now seems an age away . The George Floyd protests sparked student activism spanning a broad range of social themes and a year on it is useful to reflect on the impact on the College . Many old and present Wykehamists wrote to the school and the media expressing their concern and the Warden launched a review into our culture and practices as they related to race and equality .
Before going further , I ’ ll recount a reflection with a don on a year of great change at the school . Some believed the school had become ‘ too corporate ’, the admission of girls a symptom of creeping woke-ism ( I had to look this up ). The Wykehamist brow was collectively furrowed by rumours that the CEO ( formerly the Warden ) had replaced his ceremonial flag with a rainbow version ; that the Chief Experience Officer ( Headman ) and Chief Discipline Officer ( Second Master ) had introduced veganism across House kitchens and noncompetitive Yoga now jostled with Winchester football in popularity .
I can confidently assure you that this is all ‘ fake news ’. Moreover , Chief Archiving Officer , Suzanne Foster , felt the ruckus was a bit OTT . Her trawl through the archives revealed that the College had gone through structural shifts over the centuries . For instance , following the abolition of strats in the 80s The Trusty Servant reported ‘ Whiffs of outrage ’. It supported the move on balance , on the basis that they were ‘ too attractive and fragile a target for boys to be able to wear ... outside the school precints .’
The ‘ Gymnasium venture ’ also drew ire . A letter published in The Wykehamist described it as ‘ intolerable that such sums should be squandered on what is in anyone ’ s opinion a venture of questionable value , while
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