I’m not going to talk about the specific experiences I’ve had involving racism and classism at @durham_uni because it’s not something I enjoy thinking about but I do want to say that they have been numerous and they have been explicit

threads like @sam_jja’s and @itsnicholavo’s have highlighted their experiences and as both of them have pointed out: these are NOT isolated incidents. every person of colour and every working class person and every woman I know at durham has experienced targeted and vile

discrimination. the problem is ABSOLUTELY institutional. the university is a place that fosters and encourages and protects those who perpetuate abuse on minorities, abuse that can be either outright or insidious. I’ve been bullied by a paid member of university staff.

there is no system in place to support victims of these attitudes and behaviours. dogpiles onto individual students are ALLOWED, as I’ve experienced firsthand and have witnessed in the past few days. the culture at durham emboldens these people.

since freshers week of my first year I have been subject to gross levels of outright racism and classism. every single year I have considered dropping out. for a period of time I was literally too scared to even go into my college ( @StMarysJCR).

when I reached out for help, literally sobbing in front of a university staff member I was told nothing could be done and no sanctions could be put in place for the people who had treated me like that. I was left hanging in the wind by people who were supposed to help me.

people get away with these behaviours because of who they are and who they know. the culture at @durham_uni allows this. it consistently fails people of colour, working class people, lgbt people and women. if anyone is thinking of going to durham, just don’t.

I was literally TOLD I wasn’t allowed to be involved in anything to do with people of colour at my college by white people. I was cut off by certain people for suggesting nazism was bad. people who had JUST met me would make jokes about my class position.

people in CHARGE of welfare organised online dogpiling of me and faced ZERO consequences. a (white) university staff member said racist things direct to my face and faced ZERO consequences. support staff refused to help me when I asked.