Oxford president demands octopus is taken off college menu over fears it might alienate disadvantaged students
- Baroness Royall reportedly said she wanted to make the college welcoming to all
- And allegedly wants to change culture at Somerville College where she is head
- Reported she asked staff to replace octopus terrine dish with less exotic food
The president of an Oxford college has asked for octopus to be taken off in a bid to prevent upset among disadvantaged students, it was claimed.
Baroness Royall, head of Somerville College, has reportedly said she wanted to make the college welcoming to all and change its culture.
The Telegraph reported how Baroness Royall had told catering staff to replace an octopus terrine dish with a less exotic alternative, following a complaint from a first-year student.
Baroness Royall (pictured), head of Somerville College, has reportedly said she wanted to make the college welcoming to all and change its culture
Baroness Royall allegedly told catering staff to replace an octopus terrine dish with a less exotic alternative (pictured is a stock image of an octopus dish)
Lady Royall, the former Labour leader in the House of Lords, revealed the incident in a blog post titled ‘I am determined to move fast on widening access to Somerville’, published on the college’s website yesterday.
In the blog, she discussed the steps the college had taken to increase the intake of students from disadvantaged backgrounds including a ‘Demystifying Oxford Day’ for state school students.
The baroness wrote: ‘I feel sure that there is more we can do to … encourage more strong candidates to apply, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds.
‘I also want to turn the spotlight on ourselves and ask how we should change the culture of Somerville and Oxford to ensure that we are welcoming to all.
‘One of our students told me of her bemusement at being served an octopus terrine at the Freshers’ Dinner.
‘I’m sure the cephalopod dish was delicious but it might not be quite right for every-one.’
Lady Royall reportedly made the decision to remove the dish following a complaint from a first-year student at Somerville College in Oxford (pictured)
A Somerville student called the move ‘tokenistic’. ‘It also implies that octopus, and certain food dishes, are not for people from a particular background and should be reserved for the privileged few,’ they said.
However, Joe Inwood, president of Oxford University’s student union, praised the move. ‘It is great to see colleges listen to feedback,’ he said.
A spokesman for the college told the Telegraph: ‘The point of education is to widen horizons, including introducing students to new tastes. But we want to make sure that, at the Freshers’ Dinner at least, food is served that everyone is likely to be comfortable with.’