Durham rapped for racial insensitivity

The bishop of Durham has criticised the University of Durham for being racially insensitive and has called for equal opportunities training, following his investigation as the university's visitor into a student complaint. But he has rejected allegations of racial harassment and discrimination.

In a report into allegations of discrimination by Nigerian MA student Oladapo Ogundipe, the bishop concluded that "there needs to be within the university more sensitivity about the potential effects on people from different cultural backgrounds, both within the social dynamics of this country and those from other countries... Perhaps some awareness programmes could be set up so that systems and teaching methods are more sensitive to these issues."

However, the bishop said that although Mr Ogundipe had suffered "turmoil", he was convinced that the incidents that led to his grievance "were not the result of prejudice or discrimination".

Mr Ogundipe disputes the findings and is considering further representations.