UCL have apologised after tweeting ‘dreaming of a white campus’

Some people thought they were talking about race instead of snow

1 year ago

UCL have apologised after sending out a tweet that alluded to ethnically cleansing their campus.

They tweeted "Dreaming a white campus?", in reference to the snowy weather while also informing students that campus would remain open during the inclement conditions.

Dreaming of a white campus? Our campuses will be open and operating fully today, Monday 11 December, so please make your way in as planned. (We can't guarantee snow but we'll try!) #snowday #londonsnow

— UCL (@ucl) December 11, 2017

Students branded the university as "pathetic" and "embarrassing" after they issued an apology: "we chose our words very poorly…we're sorry and we'll choose our words more carefully in the future."

UCL later clarified the tweet was inspired by the famous festive single 'White Christmas'. The tweet remains on UCL's feed.

Some social media users initially raised concerns with the wording of the original tweet.

Srsly guys maybe rethink this

— Erskine Pink (@PeaceMeese) December 12, 2017

pic.twitter.com/JEGa1ikNbk

— Katy🎅🏻🎄🎁 (@sirensandbells) December 12, 2017

You know who else dreamt of a white campus? Hitler, that’s who. Disgusting

— Fizzia (@LFizzia) December 13, 2017

However, UCL's follow-up tweet saw even greater backlash, with more Twitter users piling in to slam their decision to apologise.

One student saw nothing wrong with the initial tweet, and called those complaining "pillocks".

I am a UCL student, there is nothing wrong with this tweet. People who are outraged need to grow up and start studying because they clearly have too much time on their hands.
Also @ucl stop pandering to these pillocks https://t.co/sieVngtroi

— Jack Tomlinson (@TomoWWFC) December 13, 2017

However, others insisted it must be a joke.

No. @UCL now have to be trolling. This is definitely trolling. Its like Mary Whitehouse got stupid and petty and read bloody Marx.

— lisa ansell (@lisaansell2) December 13, 2017

Hilariously, @ucl have been convinced (potentially by pranksters?) that the below tweet was racist. They’ve apologised, in a “we don’t know why we’re sorry, but we’re really sorry. Please stop now” sort of way. 😆 🎅 ❄️ ⛄️ https://t.co/61jZiBXt4t

— Kenny Young (@Kenny_young) December 13, 2017

And others labelled those complaining as "attention seekers", "children", or "utter idiots".

What are you apologizing for? Snow is white, it’s a fact. Those people who are “offended” are just attention seekers who are incapable of doing anything useful so the only thing they can do is complain about racial prejudice

— Stas Egorov (@EgorovStas) December 13, 2017

Anybody who claims any offence at this is nothing more than an utter idiot!

— Mr Me 🇬🇧 (@rzhdad) December 13, 2017

why must you apologise for describing the bloody colour of snow. Ridiculous children looking at life through a pc lens

— wodlen (@widdlen21345) December 12, 2017

Even Katie Hopkins eventually waded in, to the surprise of literally no one.

Darlings…. you’ve gone all Deep South on my white arse. What’s all this @ucl – apartheid in Londonistan? Surely not. @nusuk pic.twitter.com/qIEwOk5jK3

— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) December 13, 2017

UCL haven't responded to a request for comment.

Tom Butler-Roberts