Sheffield Hallam University claimed to be investigating an incident where a black student was referred to as a “monkey” by a member of their security staff working at the university library.

A final year student who’s studying Childhood Studies at the university, he had spent the day studying in the library but had to leave in other to get a book.

when he returned around 16:30 hrs yesterday afternoon, he realised he’d left his student card on his desk inside the building, so he asked a member of the security staff to let him in.

The student claims the security staff then referred to him as a “monkey” when talking to a fellow colleague: “He proceeded to let me in then turned to his colleague as I walked away and said: ‘You know I get reyt annoyed with that monkey,’ referring to me as the ‘monkey’. I was in complete shock and upset at the way he casually said it.”

The student described the situation as “unacceptable”. The student didn’t say anything to the member of security staff at the time, but in retrospect said he realises something needs to be done to tackle this kind of racism.

I intend to report the incident to Sheffield Hallam in the hopes they will deal with the situation accordingly because it is absolutely unacceptable. I let it slide in the hopes that it would not happen again but I was wrong and I realise that something needs to be done.”

A Sheffield Hallam University spokesperson said: “Racism and hate speech are absolutely not welcome in our university community and won’t be tolerated.

“We have been in contact with the student to offer our support and we have launched an investigation into the incident. No-one should be made to feel vulnerable, unwelcome or at risk.

“We continue to champion the importance of student wellbeing, the codes of behaviour and the fundamental right to respect and equality without prejudice.

“The alleged behaviour goes against our values of equality, diversity and inclusion and our pledge to foster a safe and inclusive environment.”

Apparently the student said this isn’t the first time he has been a victim of racial abuse at university, saying he has been referred to as a “black cunt” on a night out in Sheffield when he was in second year.

This is just one of  several cases of racist incidents reported in Sheffield this year.

In January, Computer Science students at the University of Sheffield were forced to apologise after sending racist messages in a group chat.

And earlier this month, Sheffield Hallam University launched an investigation after a rotten banana was reportedly thrown at a black graduate student during an ice hockey match.

A protest over the handling of racism at Sheffield University is planned to take place this coming Friday. A protest like that is not good for the university at this time when universities are struggling to fill their vacancies.

For any chance of at least an investigation, an abuse like that has got to be reported when it happened. If you’re a black student and such happened to you please report immediately, although its very frustrating what the UK system will drag you through when you report such cases but at least do it for the record.

You might not get the desired results after investigation, still file the report right there on the spot when it happened don’t let anyone away with such utterance. if you walk away from it you are giving room for deniability and opportunity for a repeat of such on another student.

Credit: The Tap