A ROW has broken out after Southampton University's union president vowed to take down a "mural of white men" - which is a memorial to students who died in the First World War.

Emily Dawes was elected president of the union earlier this year and made the comment on social media during a meeting at the university last night.

She wrote: "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, pictured below, was painted by Sir William Rothenstein in 1916 as a memorial to British students who served in the First World War, and depicts an academic procession and an unknown soldier being presented with a degree.

The comments by Ms Dawes sparked outrage and have been branded "disrespectful", "appalling", "inflammatory" and "divisive".

One Twitter user wrote: "A very sad day.

"As I understand, these are actual individuals who died in WW1 and the mural depicts them receiving posthumous degrees.

"Southampton University, please do something about this."

Another said: "Those young boys gave up their lives so you can write this on Twitter.

"Shame on you."

Chris Whitehouse a Conservative councillor on the Isle of Wight, said: “As a regular visitor to Southampton and its university, I am absolutely appalled at this imbecilic and deeply offensive move, coming as it does as we approach the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War in only a few days’ time.

"Universities, once the home of free speech and challenging debate, are turning into creche’s for spoilt brats.

"This latest demonstration of infantilism simply brings the whole of Southampton and its University into disrepute.

"Ms Dawes should retract, apologise and resign her position.”

Miss Dawes was President of the University's Feminist Society before her election to the top post at the Union earlier this year.

During her campaign she argued that Vice Chancellor Christopher Snowden should take a pay cut so that university societies such as her own FemSoc could receive more funding.

The Londoner, whose parents live in the United States, is currently on sabbatical from her astrophysics degree. She says her favourite part of living in Southampton is the availability of 'lots of vegan food'.

Miss Dawes's intervention follows growing calls for universities to 'decolonise' their curriculums and make them more diverse.

In the most notable case Oxford University was embroiled in a row over a statue of Cecil Rhodes.

The Daily Echo has contacted Southampton University for a comment and are awaiting a response.

In a statement on Twitter, the university's Student Union - which is independent of the university - appologised for the comments.

The statement said: "This is a personal view and not that of the union.

"We do not believe the statement was said to cause upset or disrespect to anyone and does not follow our mission or values.

"We have reached out to our president to ask for a statement to be released."