CRAE presented findings from a number of interviews and surveys with BME students to Oxford University's Subcommittee for Welfare - here is what students said and what Oxford can do!

1. Calling for Change:
BME Oxford Students Speak
Out
OUSU Campaign for Racial Awareness and Equality

2. Outline
• Methodology
• Race at Oxford: A Welfare Issue
• Why Race Matters for Student Experience
• Social Isolation
• Racial Awareness
• Academic Environment
• Institutional Support
• Recommendations and Next Steps
6/11/2015 2

3. METHODOLOGY
• Sample Sizes
• 100 Voices: N = 70 students interviewed
• Race Survey: N = 528 (57.6% White, 26.3% BME) respondents
• Welfare Survey: N = 134 respondents (BME)
• Compare: 23% of OU students identify at BME (Dec 2013)
• Samples are small, but representative of BME students at
Oxford
6/11/2015 3

4. RACE AT OXFORD: A
WELFARE ISSUE
6/11/2015 4

5. HAVE YOU EVER FELT UNSAFE OR
UNWELCOME ON ACCOUNT OF YOUR RACE
OR ETHNICITY WHILE AT OXFORD?
In the 2014 Race Survey, 59%
of BME students (10% of
white students) have felt
unwelcome because of your
race/ethnicity at Oxford.
43% 43%
3%
12%
Neither Unwelcome Unsafe Both
n = 134
6/11/2015 5

6. HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK YOUR
EXPERIENCE AT OU HAS BEEN INFLUENCED
NEGATIVELY BY YOUR RACE/ETHNICITY?
In the 2014 Race Survey, 57%
of BME students (38% of
white students) believed that
racism is a problem at Oxford.
38%
41%
10% 11%
Not at all A little Some A lot
n = 136
6/11/2015 6

7. WHY RACE MATTERS
6/11/2015 7

8. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MOST
IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING BME
WELFARE AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY?
60%
59%
53%
48%
46%
45%
39%
26%
25%
22%
22%
20%
lack of other BME students (in college)
stereotypes & prejudice (other students)
lack of BME staff (in college)
social isolation
lack of other BME students (in department)
lack of BME staff (in department)
stereotypes & prejudice (teachers, tutors, professors, ...)
unequal treatment in administrative settings…
lack of support (in college)
unequal treatment in academic settings (by teachers,…
stereotypes & prejudice (administrative staff)
lack of support (in department) n = 130
6/11/2015 8

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MOST
IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING BME
WELFARE AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY?
19%
19%
16%
11%
8%
7%
4%
3%
3%
3%
2%
social isolation
stereotypes & prejudice (other students)
lack of other BME students (in college)
lack of BME staff (in college)
lack of BME staff (in department)
stereotypes & prejudice (teachers, tutors, professors, ...)
unequal treatment in academic settings (by teachers,…
lack of other BME students (in department)
unequal treatment in administrative settings…
lack of support (in college)
stereotypes & prejudice (administrative staff)
lack of support (in department)
% Ranked 1st
n = 130
6/11/2015 9

10. 6/11/2015 10
AWARENESS
“In addition to stereotypes and prejudice, a clear
lack of motivation to improve understanding of
other cultures, races, and ethnicities. People
prefer to speak in sweeping generalizations
without qualification.”
“Race is not talked about”
“Lack of understanding from non-
bme students”
“Lack of cultural awareness and
understanding”
“most other students that I know are completely
ignorant of BME concerns (eg: why do we even need a
BME rep? or beliefs that institutional racism is dead or
not a problem”
“Lack of cultural awareness, and
lack of programmes related to
cultural awareness”
“ignorance to issues”
CULTURE &
CURRICULUM
“Expectation to 'whiten' in order
to be accepted”
“Islamophobia”
“lack of BME academics in
curriculum”
“Classism”
“Casual racist jokes”
“eurocentric courses”
“Cultural differences - prevelance
of UK drinking culture”

11. SOCIAL ISOLATION
6/11/2015 11

12. “The big problem in Oxford is not prejudice but representation. There
just aren't enough BME students around, not enough
lecturers/academics. I have recently realized that I might well end up
being the first person from my ethnic background to gain an academic
post in my subject, if I am talented/lucky enough to get that far.”
“I'm half-way through my first year and we've had 13 seminars so far,
with just one taught by a BME tutor. When I brought up the BME
student ratio to a senior course tutor at the beginning of the
programme, the tutor was "shocked" that I thought such a thing, saying
that just the best students are selected. This is all fine, but it can hardly
be advertised as a global programme when 90% of the cohort have
very similar experiences.”
“The lack of BME staff, academics, and students perhaps makes people
uncomfortable knowing how to address race issues, rather than it being
racism. Though there have been times I've felt very aware of my race.
For example, porters in some of the elite colleges have made me feel
very unwelcome - which might be the same for everyone. I also feel
with positions, such as junior deans, some colleges would rather not
employ a BME or non native English speaking student as it doesn't fit
what the college believes their students will feel comfortable with.”
6/11/2015 12

13. “Part of feeling included and integrated in the university is being
taught by people who are like us, or at least feeling their
presence. Classics is HUGELY overwhelmed at both student and
staff level with middle class white men - I have never felt
particularly threatened or unwelcome because of this, but I think
it is so important (particularly for prospective applicants) to see at
least a modicum of diversity in their faculty and college.”
6/11/2015 13

14. HOW MUCH DO YOU FEEL
PART OF YOUR COLLEGE
COMMUNITY?
11%
18%
33%
38%
Not at all A little Some A lot
n = 134
HOW MUCH DO YOU
THINK YOUR RACE OR
ETHNICITY AFFECTS
YOUR ABILITY TO BE A
PART OF YOUR COLLEGE
COMMUNITY?
44%
25%
13%
18%
Not at all A little Some A lot
n = 134
6/11/2015 14

15. HOW MUCH DO YOU FEEL
PART OF THE LARGER
OXFORD COMMUNITY?
11%
27%
39%
22%
Not at all A little Some A lot
n = 135
HOW MUCH DO YOU
THINK YOUR RACE OR
ETHNICITY AFFECTS
YOUR ABILITY TO BE A
PART OF THE LARGER
OXFORD COMMUNITY?
6/11/2015 15
34%
30%
22%
14%
Not at all A little Some A lot
n = 135

16. RACIAL AWARENESS
6/11/2015 16

17. “I feel like there is in general a lot of ignorance about white privilege
here. I don't actually see it as a problem within my seminars, but it's
definitely difficult to socialize with my peers outside of seminars,
because suddenly I have to deal with people casually using racial slurs,
denying racism, etc. It's ridiculous that there are Oxford students who
think that cultural appropriation or blackface is okay. Even when you
bring up racism, suddenly white people start wallowing in white guilt,
making it difficult if not impossible to actually talk about the experiences
of marginalized people of color. Overall, my experience at Oxford really
makes me think that Oxford doesn't give a shit about its students of
color. I can't wait to get out of here--thank God my program is only one
year.”
“Ignirance [sic] of individuals - people making racist comments
apparently without even realising that these are racist, such as "what
race are you", "you don't look like you're from X", "where are you really
from?" (All heard during my first months here.)”
“The awkwardness around the topic is a huge issue. With such a non-
BME JCR, it's never a topic anyone feels comfortable talking about.
When issues come up, it always becomes uncomfortable and you feel
targeted”
6/11/2015 17

18. ACADEMIC
ENVIRONMENT
6/11/2015 18

19. TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU THINK BME
STUDENTS AT OU ARE TREATED UNFAIRLY
IN ACADEMIC SETTINGS?
From the 100 Voices Report:
“It means that BME students
are made to feel inferior and
our identities are subsumed,
almost as if to say there are no
academics from other
backgrounds that haven’t
made huge developments in
their field.”
22%
41%
25%
12%
Not at all A little Some A lot
n = 134
6/11/2015 19

20. INSTITUTIONAL
SUPPORT
6/11/2015 20

21. IF/WHEN YOU WERE TREATED UNFAIRLY,
WOULD YOU/DID YOU KNOW WHOM TO
APPROACH?
From the 100 Voices Report:
“The university would treat
race related incidents seriously
and deal with it to make a
stand – I just don’t get the
sense that it would do this
proactively. They’re not
encouraging a dialogue about
it [race] which, in turn, doesn’t
encourage people to feel
comfortable about coming
forward about it unless its
desperate.”
YES
33%
NO
67%
n = 135
6/11/2015 21

22. DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH
SUPPORT SERVICES TO ADDRESS ISSUES
SPECIFIC TO BME STUDENTS?
In the 2014 Race Survey, 29%
of BME students (51% of white
students) knew of anywhere
where you would feel
comfortable reporting a racially
charged incident.
45%
12%
17%
26%
Neither at
college nor
unviersity
At college but
not at
university
At university
but not at
college
At both
university
and college
n = 128
6/11/2015 22

23. WHO WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE
APPROACHING WITH BME SPECIFIC ISSUES?
In the 2014 Race Survey, 39%
of BME students (69 % of
white students) felt comfortable
talking to their college’s welfare
and peer support group about
race/ethnicity.
36%
7%
30%
27%
Neither college
administration
nor welfare
officers/peer
supporters
College
administration
but not welfare
officers/peer
supporters
Welfare
officers/peer
supporters but
not college
administration
Both welfare
officers/peer
supporters and
college
administration
n = 131
6/11/2015 23

24. RECOMMENDATIONS
AND NEXT STEPS
6/11/2015 24

25. HOW DO YOU THINK THE UNIVERSITY AND
COLLEGES CAN WORK TOWARDS
ADDRESSING THESE WELFARE ISSUES?
6/11/2015 25
AWARENESS
“Talking about it! Race is so rarely discussed”
“I feel as though there needs to be more
discussion overall about institutional
racism. It's an ongoing struggle to unpack
our privilege and realize the way in which
our words and/or actions contribute to a
racist society, but it's a struggle that
everyone should hopefully be up for
undertaking.”
“ a campaign on culture and
behavioural change”
“Colleges - perhaps more awareness for
the non-academic staff.”
Compulsory workshops should be
part of the induction process as well
to raise the issues of 'privilege', the
under-representation of BME students at
this university and a presentation of the
results of surveys like this.
“BME officers, cultural awareness programmes
eg. cultural weeks, more respectful treatment of
foreign cuisines by hall”
“Teach kids stuff. Teach
them what's racist. I'm
sick of them not knowing
or caring enough to
educate themselves.”
“More
acknowledgement/awareness,
particularly amongst staff, of
potential (and reality) for
institutional stereotypes and
prejudices to be
maintained/reinforced, and active
work to counter those prejudices,
not just assuming complacently
that everything is being done
correctly.”

26. HOW DO YOU THINK THE UNIVERSITY AND
COLLEGES CAN WORK TOWARDS
ADDRESSING THESE WELFARE ISSUES?
6/11/2015 26
WELFARE
SUPPORT
“First off, they should not discredit students' of color experience and
victim blame them, which they have done to me. Listen, and not assume
students of color are making things up.”
“College staff should include BME people
who are better equipped to understand and
tackle these problems. Moreover the
university needs to take racism more
seriously.”
“Being more sensitive to complaints
and concerns when issues arise.”
“There should be more
deliberate effort to help
these students integrate
and fit in especially because
they are so few in number.
It is easy to feel
overwhelmed and lost in
the beginning.”
“Actively speaking more to
BME students and putting
more BME people in
positions where they are
dealing with these
problems, as they can fully
relate to the situations.”

27. HOW DO YOU THINK THE UNIVERSITY AND
COLLEGES CAN WORK TOWARDS
ADDRESSING THESE WELFARE ISSUES?
6/11/2015 27
STUDENT
REPRESENTATION
“Encouraging BME
students to apply,
addressing the imbalance
in the student
population.”
“More access, starting earlier on. A bit
more active engagement with the issue
from the university/faculty. I think there's a
bit of a fear about talking about racial
representation for fear of offending.”
“Targeting access work specifically to boost
diversity and make the university representative
in terms of ethnicity. Do not homogenise BME or
set targets for BME. There are so few black
students at Oxford, whilst there are a fair few Asian-
origin students, like myself.”
I think it is so important
(particularly for prospective
applicants) to see at least a
modicum of diversity in their
faculty and college.

28. HOW DO YOU THINK THE UNIVERSITY AND
COLLEGES CAN WORK TOWARDS
ADDRESSING THESE WELFARE ISSUES?
6/11/2015 28
STAFF
REPRESENTATION
I think it is so important (particularly
for prospective applicants) to see
at least a modicum of diversity
in their faculty and college.
“They need a POC or BME
officer at every college as well
as a Tutor for Race.”
“College staff should include
BME people who are better
equipped to understand and
tackle these problems.”
“For me, it is so important to have more BME staff -
both academic and non-academic. Part of feeling
included and integrated in the university is being taught
by people who are like us, or at least feeling their
presence. Classics is HUGELY overwhelmed at both
student and staff level with middle class white men.”
“please hire
more BME staff
particularly
academics.
Please.”
“I think first and foremost we need to have a greater
number of BME students and staff be recruited,
admitted, and hired to this university. Oxford needs to
develop a keen sense that the lack of diversity at all levels
of the university (other than the scouts and domestic staff)
is seriously detrimental and dangerous to the university's
ideal of a world-class education.”

29. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
• Race and Racism Awareness Training:
• Mandatory racial awareness training for students (being implemented
in some college JCRs in MT 2015)
• Mandatory racial awareness for staff, especially those managing
welfare, counselling issues and recruitment
• BME Representation in Welfare and Support Services:
• Increase number of BME staff on Welfare and Support Services
• Creation of channels particularly for reporting race-related harassment
and welfare issues
• Increase Representation in College Governing Bodies:
• Creation of Race Fellow/Tutor positions
• Serving in mentorship, welfare and consciousness raising role
6/11/2015 29

30. CONTACTS
• CRAE
• Email: crae@ousu.ox.ac.uk
• Twitter: @OUSU_CRAE
• OUSU BME Officer (Nikhil Venkatesh)
• bme@ousu.ox.ac.uk
We are happy to talk, share resources, answer questions, so please
get in touch!
6/11/2015 30