Final year Mariam Abiru says she was singled out by a careers adviser for being black
Warwick University has told Legal Cheek an investigation is underway at the Russell Group law school over claims a final year student was singled out for being black during a careers seminar.
Legal Cheek revealed last week that Mariam Abiru had allegedly been told by a careers adviser that black students “actively disadvantage” themselves and hand in their applications, on average, 38 days later than white candidates.
The student, who was schooled in Nigeria, also alleged the careers adviser said she’d been told black people are generally laid back. The claims, made on Abiru’s Twitter account, continued:
She then turns to ask me if it is true that black people are generally laid back
— pops (@IkepoAbiru) October 3, 2017
To which I respond asking if she is seriously asking me to speak for all black people
— pops (@IkepoAbiru) October 3, 2017
At the time Legal Cheek exclusively reported this story, a spokesperson for Warwick University informed us it was yet to receive a complaint concerning these allegations. Things have now changed. They said:
A formal complaint has been received about this matter and an investigation of that complaint has now commenced.
In a recently recorded interview, which readers can view below, Abiru speaks about her alleged experiences and her decision to issue a formal complaint to the Russell Group university. She has also used her Twitter account to urge UK universities to “do better” and says she hopes her accusations will “spark a conversation about the institutional racism POC [people of colour] are up against”.
