Priyamvada Gopal

My attempts to raise this with Fellows & with its management verbally and in writing have failed to elicit any changes. Hundreds of stories abound over the years. BASTA! Where you are in a position to tell them: if you can't be polite to me at the gate, I can't do any work for..

you, you should. I apologise to any future students affected and to @CambridgeBME but it is more than time to address this long festering sore. Until and unless it is, I will not do any more work for Kings.

Apologies, that should have tagged @CUSUonline @CUSUEducation. It's for the students that over the years I've hesitated to take this decision. But I think it's come to point where it is for students, BAME students who've shared theirr Kings stories with me, that I must do it.

Oh and today, I repeatedly asked them to address me as 'Dr Gopal' and repeatedly failed to get them, including the aggressive Head Porter to whom I attempt to complain to address me as anything other than 'madam.'

Just had phonecall from Visitor Service @Kings_College. Classic nopology: 'It has not been my experience', says presumably white head of that department. Well, no, really? And so what has been happening has not been happening? Ok then.

I also need to take this action because most people aggressed by the mostly white doorkeepers and all white all male Porters (as far as I can see) @Kings_College are not going to be in a position to do even this little. I call on those who ARE in a position to join me in this.

'Please address me as Dr Gopal.' 'I don't care who you are.' This is @Kings_College Head Porter who then launched into a tirade about how people treat him. I am sorry but my brown body isn't taking the hit for that. He'd never talk like this to actual white men who behave badly.

Some time ago, I received this from a Kings BAME student. 'I have recently heard about your awful treatment from the porters and gate staff at Kings, and so on behalf of the students of the college I would like to apologise for this unacceptable incident. I wanted to let you..'

'know that the issue of racial profiling and unconscious bias at the Kings gate is something we are aware of and are trying our absolute hardest to find some sort of resolution to this -we have collected testimonials of many other students and staff who have experienced horrible'

'unfair treatment from the staff at the front of Kings, and the fact that I am still hearing of so many incidents makes me appalled. I am in the process of discussing the issue with college and hopefully there will soon be some sort of progress, but in the meantime'

'[we are] urging students to talk about the issue, make sure such incidents are discussed and brought to people's attention, and so we also realise the severity of the problem.' Again, students speak to what their teachers and managers keep denying. I am SO sorry about this.