Page 16 - IAV Digital Magazine #524

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Queen's Portrait Removed After Vote By Oxford University Students
Students at one of Oxford University's col- leges have voted to remove a por- trait of the Queen from their com- mon room.
Members of Magdalen College Middle Common Room (MCR) deemed the image a sym- bol of "recent colonial history".
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson brand- ed the move as "simply absurd".
The president of Magdalen said
the decision was one for the stu- dents, not the col- lege. The BBC has contacted the students' group for comment.
According to the minutes of Monday's MCR committee meet- ing, the motion was tabled in an effort to make the common room more welcoming and to recognize that "for some students, depic- tions of the monarch and the British monarchy represent recent colonial history".
The vote ended with 10 in favor of removing the por- trait, two against and five absten- tions.
One member, whose name was withheld in the minutes, said "effectively 'can- celling' the Queen" sent out a "dire message that is sure to enrage", while another said: "We are not capable of cancelling the Queen. This is about our com- munal space and making people feel welcome."
Barrister Dinah Rose, who was appointed presi- dent of Magdalen College last year, emphasized that the students were not representative of the college, but supported their right to "free speech and politi- cal debate".
In a series of tweets, she said: "A few years ago, in about 2013, they bought a print of a photo of the Queen to decorate their common room. "They recently voted to take it down. Both of these decisions are their own to take, not the col- lege's."
She finished: "Being a student is about more than studying. It's about exploring and debating ideas. It's some- times about pro- voking the older generation.
"Looks like that isn't so hard to do these days." She added the photo
would be "safely stored".
Ms Rose said people had been "sending obscene and threatening messages to col- lege staff" and urged them to consider whether that was the "best way to show your respect for the Queen".
Political website Guido
Fawkes reported the motion was launched to make members "feel welcome", with one student said to have comment- ed "patriotism
and colonialism are not really separable".
The education secretary, who tweeted his thoughts on Tuesday evening, said: "Oxford University stu- dents removing a picture of the Queen is simply absurd.
"She is the Head of State and a symbol of what is best about the
UK. During her long reign she has worked tire- lessly to promote British values of tolerance, inclu- sivity and respect around the world."
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told BBC Breakfast it was "student union politics".
He added: "I have a portrait of the Queen on my office wall in my government department and I'm proud to do so.
"I wouldn't want anyone to disre- spect her out of ignorance in this way but I don't think that we should waste too much time on stu- dent union poli- tics."
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham told Nick Ferrari on LBC radio: "These kind of gestures are get- ting a bit out of hand.
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