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Student says sorry for 'no bongos or shisha pipes' invite
Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter11.10.07
The rugby captain at one of Britain's most ethnically diverse universities has been forced to apologise after inviting students to an "English party".
Fellow students accused Timothy McLellan of racism after he sent out an invitation to the event, promising "no bongos, shisha pipes or Arabic music".
The backlash was so severe that he has emailed more than 3,000 students at the School of Oriental and African Studies admitting the poster was "naive and ill-conceived".
The law student said he was only trying to make a joke out of the fact so many social events at SOAS, part of the University of London, had ethnic and multicultural themes.
In his email Mr McLellan, 20, said: "The aim of the poster was not to alienate or discriminate but rather to express that this party was, unlike most SOAS events, going to have a more mainstream vibe.
"The choice of the word 'English', which I now regret, was not intended to mean that it was a party for white English students but was rather intended to express that the party's vibe reflected England's mainstream culture, which in itself is not racially exclusive.
"Equally, the decision to use the examples of bongos, shisha pipes and Arabic music, which I also regret, was not designed as a slur on their respective cultures or to suggest that they are not a valuable part of English multi-culturalism. They were simply singled out as typical stereotypes of student life at SOAS." Mr McLellan admitted he was wrong not to have said sorry immediately when students first confronted him.
SOAS is thought of as one of the most "right-on" colleges in the country and is the only one specialising in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its patron is the Queen.
Of 3,700 students, more than 1,200 are from outside Europe.
Aileen Puhlmann, co-president of sports and society at the SOAS student union, said: "When I saw the poster I could see the irony in it but at the same time you could make a big deal of it, especially here. You could blow it up into something it clearly wasn't meant to be other than a good night out.
"It could either make people laugh or offend and, unfortunately, it offended."
It is understood the event passed off without incident at a pub in Holborn last week.
Reader views (16)
Bit silly wasn't he.
- Jade, London
I am an ex-SOAS student and it was PC gone mad - maybe even a bit too far the other way. There were flat share ads specifying the religion and region of origin of the preferable candidates (just a hint - it wasn't anglo-saxon protestants). That used to surprise me, but it was honest at least and I didn't take offence but the other way...of course it causes a serious incident with lots of shocked indignation - for goodness sake get over yourselves, the bongo drums used to get on my nerves too.
- Fiona, London, UK
Some people had a problem with a poster that appeared to exclude non-English (and ethnic minoruty English) students. They pointed this out. Tim apologised of his own accord.
Which just goes to show you can express offence without being a 'pc crusader gone mad', and that you can cause offence without being a hardened neo-Nazi.
Well done to those who expressed their concerns politely. Well done to Tim who understood their concerns and apologised.
- Dan, SOAS, London
Ridiculous, and a bit scary that you can force (or threaten) someone to bow and apologise for nothing.
Also shows the difficult conditions for humour in the upcoming multicultural society. Everybody will take jokes as being evil, nobody will dare to be fun.
- Casper, Copenhagen
After seeing a photo of Mr McLellan it is obvious he is laughing at himself. The man has style.
- Peregrine, Peterborough
To be honest most people I've seen playing bongos have been white...! He didn't say anybody was excluded so what's the problem? If he'd mentioned the rugby team would the footballers have sued?
- Mark, London, UK
Lighten up people!
Do we always have to take things so seriously?
- Bruce, Washington DC, USA
Whats wrong with requesting that party guests do not bring inapropriate items with them? Dress and behaviour etiquette has changed a lot in the last hundred years, to the point where most don't even know what "black tie" means. Perhaps in todays socially diverse England a more obvious and open etiquette system is the way forward?
- Michael Goodman, Loughborough
I would ask people to try to not be sensitive, Tim had every right to say what kind of party he wanted.
- Tony, London
For the record I was not forced to issue an apology, it was my own decision.
- Timothy Mclellan, London
Perhaps someone should show him how to correctly advertise an "English party": an announcement that there will be cucumber sandwiches and Gilbert & Sullivan and croquet on the lawn. There - a celebration of classic English culture, with no one offended.
- Deas, NYC, US
How pathetic.
- Austin, USA
Forced to apologise? The world's gone mad.
- Peter B, Stevenage U.K.
It seems that no thought is ever given to the sensibilities of English people! If it is standard practice to invite people to events with specific ethnic themes, real equality means allowing the native population to invite people to English-themed events without some sort of name-calling witch-hunt in response. I just wish the guy had shown the courage not to apologise!
- Daniel Jupp, Chelmsford, England
It was never meant as a racist comment, but the usual PC brigade jump on this as per usual and try to make a big song and dance once more.
People really need to get a life! It may be a joke that has back-fired, but it was meant just that - a joke!
An apology to all and sundry wasn't needed, but obviouly if you say certain words like 'bongo drums' etc, these days it makes you a member of The National Front/BNP (or whatever they call themselves these days!) Such a sad society we live in these days!
- Scott, London
It takes a man to apologise, so well done Tim.
- Nick, Zurich, Switzerland
