I choked on my blueberry muffin this morning when I read in today’s Guardian that Jeremy Clarkson was to get an honorary degree. But that’s not the half of it. I almost had a heart-attack when I read that it was being awarded by my old University - Oxford Brookes University.
Having recovered sufficiently to stagger home, I’ve added my name to the thousands who have already signed the online petition (They have 1,300 signatures, and are hoping for 5,000), and have also - to make sure my voice is heard - also written a letter to the University urging it to reconsider. My letter is attached after the jump.
Professor Graham Upton
Vice Chancellor
Oxford Brookes University
Gipsy Lane
Headington
Oxford
OX3 0BP
Re. Honorary Degree for Jeremy Clarkson
I writing to express my shock at hearing that Oxford Brookes University was considering awarding Jeremy Clarson with an honorary degree.
As a former student (Computing, 1991-1995) I wish to make it clear that I feel this suggestion does nothing to improve Oxford Brookes’ reputation as the best former polytechnic. At the time of my studentship, Oxford Polytechnic had the motto “Excellent in Diversity”. Awarding an honorary degree to a man who is a Xenophobic, reactionary, self-publicising, provocative and arrogant person simply detracts from the University. If this is a role model for students, I find myself very much worried for the future.
Whilst honourary degrees should serve to both publicise the university, and reward those who have made a contribution to a particular field, I am at a loss to understand any reason for which Mr Clarkson should receive such an accolade.
I therefore ask that you reconsider this proposal.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Leyton
Whether it’ll do any good, I don’t know. But I’m not going to sit idly waiting for others to do something about it.
Entries (RSS)
June 27th, 2005 at 1:48 pm
“We are giving Jeremy Clarkson an honorary degree in recognition of his enthusiasm and contribution to engineering and motor sports.”
what contribution would that be?
July 1st, 2005 at 10:22 am
I would take you much more seriously if you could spell honorary. I suspect Clarkson can, even though he is a prat.
July 1st, 2005 at 10:38 am
Hello Allen,
Thank you for your comment.
Out of five mentions of “honorary” in the article, I misspelt it once, now corrected. Simply a typo brought about by a momentary lapse, rather than - I’d argue - an inability to spell.
Regards,
September 12th, 2005 at 6:37 pm
I think you should just accept that the guy has been awarded this honour accolade. I dont think that Oxford Brookes University will be stupid enough to give him this honour if he hadn’t contributed to his field.
So shut it Richard and Matt and get real.
Micheal
September 13th, 2005 at 8:08 pm
[...] I chuckled when I saw this splashed about the papers. I’d had a few things to say about it myself, even attracting a few abrupt words on the matter. [...]