Cambridge University May Have to Shake up English Literature After Protest

Cambridge University may be looking to make some changes in its English Literature courses as students have demanded that the university ‘decolonises’ it’s English Literature authors. Student Union women’s officer Lola Olufemi led the call, signing an open letter to the university calling for non-white authors and post colonial thought to be meaningfully incorporated into the curriculum.

In the letter Olufemi asserted that this was not a call for the exclusion of white men from reading lists, but that for too long teaching English at Cambridge has encouraged a traditional and canonical approach that elevates white male authors at the expense of others.

While it’s hard to disagree with the assertion, the story hit the headlines when the Daily Telegraph led with a story about white male authors being removed from the curriculum, something Olufemi specifically asserted she was not trying to do.

This has led to accusations levelled at the Telegraph of inciting racial hatred, something the newspaper denies. By leading with their angle on the story, the furore may now rumble on for a while. Olufemi has been attacked on social media and feels that the Daily Telegraph have portrayed her story in a dishonest light.

The University confirmed that it has been handed a letter with more than 100 signatures about the English courses and said discussions about how postcolonial literature is taught are at a very early stage.

College bosses also defended students saying that critical debate about the curriculum was healthy and proper.