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© Benjamin Evans

Exeter isn't black enough

07/11/09 - 0 comments

In a recent statement the white, middle-class actress Emma Thompson has complained that Exeter is too white and middle class.

Her adopted son, Rwandan-born Tindyebwa Agaba, studied at Exeter University and has complained that he had a "rough" time here and that, whilst at the university he was subjected to racist taunts.

I can't help but wonder if the hundreds of thousands of other foreign students that have come to the campus over it's many years have had the same problem or if this is merely a few isolated incidents blown out of all proportion by someone with a public mouth-piece.

The 'black' population of Exeter is currently only 0.8% of the total, and we're clearly not black enough, so what does Thompson suggest we do to up the ratio a bit? More importantly, can this be done without upsetting all the minorities and other demographic representatives.

Surely a more reasonable explanation for the numbers is that we're a peninsula, away from the major conurbations that will provide a likely draw, and people either don't want to come to Exeter, or simply cannot afford it.

Then, speaking of Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP, she said "He'd love Exeter. He would feel very comfortable here."

Cheers for that Emma. You really know how to get a city on your side.

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