Cecil Rhodes statue to remain at Oxford University
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education...l?sf19907871=1
Cecil Rhodes statue to remain at Oxford University after alumni threatens to withdraw millions
Exclusive: Threats by alumni to withdraw millions in donations prompted Oriel College decision, leaked documents reveal
Quote:
Originally Posted by Daily Telegraph
Oxford University’s statue of Cecil Rhodes is to stay in place after furious donors threatened to withdraw gifts and bequests worth more than £100 million if it was taken down, The Daily Telegraph has learnt.
The governing body of Oriel College, which owns the statue, has ruled out its removal after being warned that £1.5m worth of donations have already been cancelled, and that it faces dire financial consequences if it bows to the Rhodes Must Fall student campaign.
A leaked copy of a report prepared for the governors and seen by this newspaper discloses that wealthy alumni angered by the “shame and embarrassment” brought on the 690-year-old college by its own actions have now written it out of their wills. The college now fears a proposed £100m gift - to be left in the will of one donor - is now in jeopardy following the row. The donors were astonished by a proposal to remove a plaque marking where Rhodes lived, and to launch a six-month consultation over whether the statue of the college’s biggest benefactor should be taken down.
But Oriel College confirmed in a statement to the Telegraph: “Following careful consideration, the College’s governing body has decided that the statue should remain in place.”
A small but vocal group of student activists had argued that the image of Rhodes, whose legacy still funds Rhodes scholarships for overseas students, should be toppled because the Victorian imperialist was a racist. Oriel's agreement to enter into discussion about the future of the statue triggered a wider row about free speech in universities and whether students need to be protected from offence.
Oriel has now been panicked into cancelling the proposed six-month consultation and the plaque marking the building where he lived while he was a student at Oriel will also stay, but both will have an accompanying sign providing historical “context”. At a meeting on Wednesday the governing body was told that because of its ambiguous position on the removal of the statue, “at least one major donation of £500,000” that was expected this year has been cancelled.
In addition, a “potential £750,000 donor” has stopped responding to messages from the college, and several alumni have written to Oriel to say “they are disinheriting the college from their wills”. One of those who has already cancelled their legacy was going to leave a “seven figure sum” and the college is aware that “another major donor is furious with the College… whose legacy could be in excess of £100m”.
The report warns that the college could now make some of its staff redundant because of the collapse in donations. And it has cancelled an annual fundraising drive that should have taken place in April. The report also warns that Oriel's development office could now make an operating loss of around £200,000 this year.
Well done to the donors for putting an end to the caving in to these insane students. #RhodesWillStay
I have to say personally I would now make a requirement of the university for my large donation for another type of memorial in the form of a statue or memorial, paid for by myself, to be made to the memory of Cecil Rhodes who was one of the great Britons to have ever lived.
And maybe a plaque dedicated to freedom of speech alongside it to remind students of the university of that academic principle.
Thoughts?
