Oxford University students impacted by George Floyd’s death can apply for mitigating circumstances

Oxford University students who feel the ‘traumatic effect of the brutality’ of George Floyd’s death made them do worse in exams can apply for mitigating circumstances considerations.

The announcement by vice-Chancellor professor Louise Richardson followed pressure from campaigners at the university who claim the horrific video of Floyd’s last moments had a lasting impact on black students.

Floyd was killed when white police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds despite his desperate pleas that he ‘can’t breathe’.

The announcement by vice-Chancellor professor Louise Richardson followed pressure from campaigners at the university who claim the horrific video of Floyd’s last moments had a lasting impact on black students. Pictured: Demonstrations in Oxford

Professor Richardson said the manner of Floyd’s death was a ‘manifestation of institutionalised racism’ in the letter signed by 35 college principals, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Students should inform the university should they ‘feel their performance has been affected’, she added. 

University staff are also being urged to ‘reach out to any black students who may be experiencing difficulty at this time’, the letter said.

It added: ‘The university has, as Britain does, a history that is marked by colonialism and imperialism. The recent protests have also brought a renewed focus on this era of Oxford’s history.’

Floyd was killed when white police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds despite his desperate pleas that he ‘can’t breathe’. Pictured: Demonstrations in Oxford

Professor Richardson said the manner of Floyd’s death was a ‘manifestation of institutionalised racism’ in the letter signed by 35 of the institution’s college principals. Pictured: Demonstrations in Oxford

University staff are also being urged to ‘reach out to any black students who may be experiencing difficulty at this time’, the letter said. Pictured: Demonstrations in Oxford

‘The university relies on bringing the very best minds from across the world together, whatever their race, gender, religion or background to create new ideas, insights and innovations to change the world for the better.’

It comes after protesters at the university called for a statue of Cecil John Rhodes, a mining magnate and former Prime Minister of South Africa’s Cape Colony, to be torn down.

The imperialist leader is divisive due to some seeing him as a racist and complicit in paving the way for apartheid in South Africa. 

Students should inform the university should they ‘feel their performance has been affected’. Pictured: Demonstrations in Oxford 

Following the outcry, the university vowed to ensure it’s degrees educated pupils on colonialism, The Times reports.

Faculties given grants to help them increase diversity in their syllabus’ are the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences.

Professor Richardson said in a letter to the university’s student union: ‘Many departments in social sciences have begun work on making their curriculum more inclusive and adding diverse voices to it. 

‘This includes steps such as integrating race and gender questions into topics, embedding teaching on colonialism and empire into courses, changing reading lists to ensure substantial representation of a diverse range of voices, and ensuring better coverage of issues concerning the global South in syllabuses.’