Exeter University students suspended over racist Whatsapp messages

The University of Exeter has suspended a number of law students amid an investigation into racist Whatsapp messages.

Screenshots of comments made in a private group chat were shared on social media by undergraduate law student, Arsalan Motavali.

They show members of the Bracton Law Society repeatedly using racial slurs such as n***** and p*** and making jokes about gang rape and incest.

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One message read: “Blacks are useless tree ornaments,” while another called for a race war.

Warning: screenshots contain explicit language and racial slurs

Motavali, who originally created the group, said he had reported the comments to university bosses and the students’ union. The police have also been informed.

“I did not voice my concerns in the group, but went silent for a long time,” he said on Facebook. “I mainly stayed in the chat to collect evidence.”

In a statement on Twitter, the university said it “unreservedly” condemns any act of racism. “Incidents of this nature should not, and will not, be tolerated,” it added.

Bracton Law Society said it had taken the decision to remove those involved from committee, ban one candidate from an ongoing election and indefinitely ban all those involved from the society.

One of the group’s members has also had an employment offer withdrawn by a major law firm.

Hill Dickinson LLP said it was “deeply disturbed” by the messages and the man in question would no longer be joining the Liverpool-based firm in September 2019 as part of their graduate programme.

The is not the first time racism has been an issue at the university, The Guardian says. Last year, students were pictured wearing T-shirts bearing anti-Semitic and racist slogans at a Freshers event.