Manchester University vice-chancellor faces calls to quit after ‘racist incident’ at halls

The vice-chancellor of Manchester University is being asked to resign following the alleged racial profiling of a student on Friday evening.

Zac Adan, a 19-year-old first-year student, was left ‘traumatised’ after he was accused of ‘looking like a drug dealer’ by university security officers who held him up against a wall, demanding to see identification.

Dozens of students took part in an anti-racism demonstration at the University’s Fallowfield campus on Monday night to protest the incident.

The University has launched an investigation into the incident and has suspended the security officers involved.

However, the incident has shed a light on an institution that is battling a series of controversies, prompting daily protests from students.

One such controversy is the erection of metal fencing around the Fallowfield campus overnight, which was later torn down by students who felt like they ‘woke up in prison’. 

The chair of Manchester Stand Up to Racism, Nahella Ashraf, said the only reason Adan was stopped by security officers was because he was black. She added that she was aware of other students who have experienced similar situations while walking around halls and urged them to also come forward.

Ashraf said: “It sends a clear message that this university and the people employed by the university – the security firm – see black people as the other, that they don’t belong on campus. That is just unacceptable.”

Ashraf has also called for the vice-chancellor, Nancy Rothwell to resign.

She said: “I think I speak for lots of people, not just across this city but the parents of the students stuck in this campus, to say that we think she should step down.”

Adding: “She is not fit to do the job she is doing.”

Manchester University released a statement on Sunday, following the emergence of video footage of the event, that said: “We are deeply concerned by these images. We have spoken to the student concerned, launched a full investigation and have suspended the security officers (without prejudice) pending the results of this investigation.”

On Tuesday, the university outlined a new pledge on accommodation that included a two-week (20%) rent reduction of students in the first semester after long protests. 

Since last week, a group of students have been occupying Owens Park tower accusing the university of putting ‘profits before students’.

It is part of a wider protest that is not only asking for a 40% rent reduction after the students were asked to stay home due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but also against the university’s response to the pandemic, including lack of mental health support.