Student union president causes outrage after vowing to take down war memorial mural because it contains only white men, by Helena Horton.

Emily Dawes, who leads the University of Southampton Student Union was widely condemned after tweeting: “Mark my words – we’re taking down the mural of white men in the uni Senate room, even if I have to paint over it myself.”

The Rothenstein memorial, to which she refers, depicts an unnamed student receiving a degree from the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, representing all the young men who lost their lives in the war and were unable to complete or collect their degrees. …

It features many key academics from the era of the Great War, including vice-chancellors and chancellors, and the then poet laureate Robert Bridges, and other panels of the mural feature young war poets who lost their lives in battle. …

Ms Dawes has since apologised, and said in a statement: … “My intention was to promote strong, female leadership and not the eradication and disrespect of history.”

Right on sister. All history is about strong women like you, if only we could see it. We excuse your racism and sexism ‘cos it’s in a good cause — you!

hat-tip Stephen Neil