‘No man would want to touch you’: UCL professor accused of ‘harassing’ student protestor

A UCL professor has been accused of “harassing” a Muslim student during a protest.

Richard Mole, the director of UCL’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), was filmed insulting a student whilst she was engaging in a pro-Palestine demonstration last November.

In a video of the incident posted online, the professor can be heard telling the student she is a “coward” and that he “wouldn’t want to touch” them.

Professor Mole has since apologised for his actions, which he described as “unacceptable”.

The protest took place in November 2024, outside an event run by Professor Mole at a university campus. Footage of the demonstration was shared on Instagram this week by UCL Stand 4 Justice, where students can be seen being ushered out of the building, including by police. 

Professor Mole can be seen walking out of the building alongside students, saying to the 19-year-old filming him: “Oh you’re scared now the police are here aren’t you? Yeah you’ve got my face, you know who I am. I’m not scared to show my face like you. You’re a coward.”

He also said: “You should be ashamed of yourself”.

The student can be heard replying to him: “Please don’t touch me.”

Professor Mole then replied that he isn’t touching them, saying: “I’m not touching you, I wouldn’t want to touch you. No man would want to touch you.”

Titled “UCL Director of SSEES Richard Mole harasses students”, protestors claim this footage shows the professor “intimidating, mocking, [and] harassing” the student as the demonstrators are being ushered out of the building.

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Throughout the clip, the student also asks Richard Mole why he is following them, saying: “Why are you following us? Stay back, please.” To this, Professor Mole responded: “Because I am the director of this school”. 

He can then be seen pushing a female protestor who is walking past the filming student.

This is when a police officer enters the frame, saying: “This is private venue, we’re allowed to use force to remove you.” The video racked up 310,000 views, and has been shared across numerous pro-Palestine pages, including on TikTok.

Professor Mole told The London Tab in a statement that he apologises for his actions: “I fully accept and understand that my remarks and actions were completely unacceptable and I whole-heartedly apologise to those affected.

“My words and actions on this occasion do not reflect my values and this is something I deeply regret and apologise for.”

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Professor Mole is still currently employed at University College London (UCL) as Director of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), and the university told The London Tab that “the incident has been investigated through [its] established processes.”

UCL Stand 4 Justice posted a statement to its Instagram page, saying: “Someone who assumes that the worst insult they can deliver to a woman is not being touched by a man, is not a teacher who will inspire women to overcome the patriarchal barriers they face in academia.”

In a statement to The London Tab, a UCL spokesperson said: “Professor Mole’s actions were clearly unacceptable, something that he himself fully acknowledges. This video was taken during a protest at an event in SSEES in November 2024. The incident has been investigated through our established processes, which remain confidential.”

Featured image via Instagram