Teh One Who Knocks
10-26-2018, 11:07 AM
Kate Buck for Metro.co.uk
https://i.imgur.com/3ZAM88B.png
The president of a student’s union has vowed to paint over a memorial to WW1 soldiers because it depicts ‘white men’.
Emily Dawes, who is President of the University of Southampton’s Union, tweeted: ‘Mark my words – we’re taking down the mural of white men in the uni Senate room, even if I have to paint over it myself.’
The mural she is referring to is the Rothenstein Mural, painted in 1916, which shows an unknown soldier receiving his degree after returning from war.
https://i.imgur.com/kx8mFey.png
It symbolises the many students who left to join the war effort and were killed so were never able to finish their studies.
Both she and the university have apologised for her words, after coming under heavy criticism and being accused of abusing the freedom of speech that the soldiers mural depicts died protecting.
The controversial post, which she has since deleted, was not the only one aimed at the memorial.
Earlier, she had posted a picture of the mural along with the caption: ‘ONE OF THE WOMEN JUST SAID ‘it’s nearly armistice day so are we covering up this tapestry??’ AND HOLY SHIT. FUCK YES. GRL PWR #sotonsenatelive’.
Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith, who served in the RAF for a decade, said her tweet was ‘disappointing’.
http://imagizer.imageshack.com/img921/6910/oXnbDe.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/374/T4OqgP.png
He said: ‘With freedom comes responsibility, and considering the President of the SU holds a position of authority she has clearly overstepped the mark.
‘I hope she will reflect on what she has said and realise it has been conducted in poor taste. Those who know the history of our island are fully aware and appreciate the involvement of black and Asian soldiers against tyranny.’
Other people branded her a ‘spoiled brat’ that ‘epitomises everything that is wrong with identity politics.’
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Miss Dawes has since released an apology.
In a statement released on Twitter she said: ‘Firstly, and most importantly, I would like to apologise for the offence and upset I have caused with what I have said.
‘I never meant the disrespect to anyone past, present and future. I had no intention of the tweet being taken literally, and upon reflection have now realised how inappropriate it was.
‘My intention was to promote strong, female leadership and not the eradication and disrespect of history.
‘I do not believe that to make progress in the future, we should look to erase the past. Once again, I would like to apologise for the offence and upset I have caused.’
A Southampton University spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘The comments made by the Students’ Union President regarding the Rothenstein Mural are not shared by the University of Southampton and do not represent the views of the University community.
‘We are very proud to display the Mural, painted in 1916, which serves as a memorial to all members of British universities who served in the Great War (World War I).’
https://i.imgur.com/3ZAM88B.png
The president of a student’s union has vowed to paint over a memorial to WW1 soldiers because it depicts ‘white men’.
Emily Dawes, who is President of the University of Southampton’s Union, tweeted: ‘Mark my words – we’re taking down the mural of white men in the uni Senate room, even if I have to paint over it myself.’
The mural she is referring to is the Rothenstein Mural, painted in 1916, which shows an unknown soldier receiving his degree after returning from war.
https://i.imgur.com/kx8mFey.png
It symbolises the many students who left to join the war effort and were killed so were never able to finish their studies.
Both she and the university have apologised for her words, after coming under heavy criticism and being accused of abusing the freedom of speech that the soldiers mural depicts died protecting.
The controversial post, which she has since deleted, was not the only one aimed at the memorial.
Earlier, she had posted a picture of the mural along with the caption: ‘ONE OF THE WOMEN JUST SAID ‘it’s nearly armistice day so are we covering up this tapestry??’ AND HOLY SHIT. FUCK YES. GRL PWR #sotonsenatelive’.
Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith, who served in the RAF for a decade, said her tweet was ‘disappointing’.
http://imagizer.imageshack.com/img921/6910/oXnbDe.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/374/T4OqgP.png
He said: ‘With freedom comes responsibility, and considering the President of the SU holds a position of authority she has clearly overstepped the mark.
‘I hope she will reflect on what she has said and realise it has been conducted in poor taste. Those who know the history of our island are fully aware and appreciate the involvement of black and Asian soldiers against tyranny.’
Other people branded her a ‘spoiled brat’ that ‘epitomises everything that is wrong with identity politics.’
1055448300986556416
1055449122977865729
1055450251740540928
1055450450487664641
1055446552402124800
Miss Dawes has since released an apology.
In a statement released on Twitter she said: ‘Firstly, and most importantly, I would like to apologise for the offence and upset I have caused with what I have said.
‘I never meant the disrespect to anyone past, present and future. I had no intention of the tweet being taken literally, and upon reflection have now realised how inappropriate it was.
‘My intention was to promote strong, female leadership and not the eradication and disrespect of history.
‘I do not believe that to make progress in the future, we should look to erase the past. Once again, I would like to apologise for the offence and upset I have caused.’
A Southampton University spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘The comments made by the Students’ Union President regarding the Rothenstein Mural are not shared by the University of Southampton and do not represent the views of the University community.
‘We are very proud to display the Mural, painted in 1916, which serves as a memorial to all members of British universities who served in the Great War (World War I).’