UEA in top 10 most ‘woke’ universities, think tank claims

The Radical Progressive University Guide places the UEA seventh out of 137 universities said to be based on the extent of ‘radical progressive’ policies, including their curbs on free speech.

The report, compiled by think tank Civitas, is based on the scouring university websites and national and local media stories for references to terms like ‘trigger warnings’, ‘content warnings’ or ‘content notes’, ‘white privilege’, and ‘anti-racism training’ or official ‘anti-racist’ guidance from universities.

Research placed the UEA seventh out of 137 universities for what researchers claims are 'woke' policies (Image: Denise Bradley)

The UEA has previously made headlines for student union boycotts of Six Nations rugby matches, Starbucks coffee, Tate and Lyle sugar and the banning of sombreros from the freshers' fair due to fears of cultural appropriation.

Meanwhile an event by the university debating society where UKIP members were due to speak was postponed after it was claimed it would make students feel 'unsafe', though it later went ahead after a review.

The university also discouraged graduating students from tossing mortarboards in the air during their official photograph over safety concerns.

However, the 30-page report by Civitas does not give specific reasons for the UEA's ranking.

UEA students protesting over Israeli policies in Gaza (Image: Newsquest)

The think tank's analysis, by researcher Dr Richard Norrie, claims to have found 62% of universities had references to ‘trigger warnings’ or ‘content notes’, designed to alert students to material deemed potentially harmful.

More than half (56%) had mentions of ‘white privilege’ in guidance or on their websites while 59% offered ‘anti-racism’ materials, training or resources on their websites.

“British universities are clearly in a sorry state, being politically monoculture and unmoored from the general population,” states his report’s conclusion.

A spokesman for the university said: “UEA has carried out a lot of work over the past few years to champion diversity, promote inclusion and provide a platform for voices in underrepresented groups to be heard.

“We aim to prepare our students to have a robust debate about a variety of materials and we regularly review our curriculum to ensure they are accessing a range of socially inclusive and diverse materials and viewpoints, as well as giving them the freedom to discuss and challenge what they read and hear.

“UEA’s Report and Support platform allows students and staff to report anonymously on incidents including sexual harassment, assault, hate and discrimination.

“We’re proud to be recognised as a university that works hard to combat all forms of harassment and ensures that students can report concerns and be supported. We will continue to put measures in place to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment in which all of our students and staff can work and learn together.”

Boycotts and protests - UEA students get radical

The UEA student union has frequently hit the headlines.

In 2014 it passed motions to boycott Starbucks and Tate & Lyle citing the firm's “immoral” tax arrangements.

It also decided to boycott the Daily Star due to its publication of Page Three, having already imposed a similar ban on the Sun.

Six Nations Rugby matches were also banned from the union bar because the tournament's sponsor RBS funded fossil fuel extraction, while Nestle products were shunned because students felt its baby milk powder could reduce breastfeeding in developing countries.

Meanwhile the 'hierarchical' post of student union president was replaced by five equal officers.

In October, student protesters hung ‘DWP Deaths Make Me Sick’ shrouds outside the lecture theatre where Norwich North MP, and then minister in charge of the Department of Work and Pensions, was due to speak.