Theresa May’s portrait removed at Oxford University after protest by geography students Oxford University’s geography department has removed a portrait of Theresa May from its wall after students branded her a “contentious […]

Oxford University’s geography department has removed a portrait of Theresa May from its wall after students branded her a “contentious figure among EU citizens”.

The Prime Minister’s picture was featured on the faculty’s “Wall of Women”, which aimed to celebrate successful women alumni.

But the inclusion of Mrs May led to opposition from students and the picture was removed on Monday evening.

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Celebrate success

Mrs May graduated from Oxford with a second class degree in geography in 1977. Her picture was one of 12 nominated by current and former members of the faculty, Cherwell, the university’s newspaper reported.

We are pleased to announce that the @theresa_may portrait has been removed from @oxfordgeography! Thanks for all your support! ✊????✊????✊???? pic.twitter.com/QgIzki4XGD — NotAllGeographers (@NGeographers) May 8, 2018

The School’s Equality and Diversity Officer, Claire Hann, who came up with the idea for the display, said: “The aim is to show that the achievements of the few selected women represent and are linked with the achievements of a much wider group of women geographers.

“We’re keen to celebrate the successes of our women students and staff as much as those of men. It’s been great to reconnect with many of our past students through this project, and we hope it will inspire our current students as they pass by the display each day.”

Unacceptable

But the student group, going by the twitter name @notallgeographers, stated it had “creatively intervened” to have the portrait removed as the student body was not consulted on its inclusion in the display.

The campaigners branded it “unacceptable and does little to inspire confidence in critical thought”.

The group questioned whether the department should be “aligned” with the “power of the day”.

#NotAllGeographers have creatively intervened for geographers everywhere to challenge the installation of a Theresa May portrait in Oxford Geography without consultation of the student body (at least). This is unacceptable and does little to inspire confidence in critical thought pic.twitter.com/HqwMqaO56O — NotAllGeographers (@NGeographers) May 5, 2018

“We are rightly proud of…the celebration of SoGE alumnae,” it said.

“However, there was no consultation (at least with students) about the placing of Theresa May as one of the selected twelve larger portraits to celebrate women and Oxford geography (or the selection of photos for the wall).

“Clearly at a time when there are issues with the Windrush scandal and the handling of Brexit [she is] a contentious figure in a department with many EU citizens and decolonial scholars.

Kick in the teeth

“The main, and most basic, issue comes with the celebration of a sitting Prime Minister. Should a department align itself with the power of the day, when there are those who actively challenge it?

“It is unprecedented to celebrate state power in such a way (regardless of one’s political affiliation).

“For many geographers, the famous Doreen Massey being placed below her is also another kick in the teeth.”

The move was heavily criticised on Twitter, with one user branding it “ridiculous”.

Ridiculous , so because you don’t like her views or policy’s u lobby Oxford geography department to take photo. Second female prime (who I certainly don’t agree with her on many of her policy’s) this country had. Scared it might upset someone ,students so wet this days https://t.co/sCqkrkrqZ3 — Gregory Taylor (@GregoryTaylor86) May 8, 2018

Vice chair of the Tory party James Cleverly pleaded to the university to say the news was not true.

Please tell me this story about you removing an alumna portrait of the Prime Minister isn’t true. @oxfordgeography — James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) May 8, 2018

A spokesman for the university said: “The portrait was being increasingly obscured by posters bearing mainly humorous satirical messages. It has now been taken down and will be re- displayed so it can be seen as intended.

“Mrs May was included in a series of portraits to celebrate outstanding female graduates of the School of Geography and the Environment. We remain proud of her success and that of all the graduates celebrated in the display.”