Oxford University says asking where someone is from and avoiding eye contact is now RACIST
The institutions Equality and Diversity Unit has said this pair of actions constitute "micro-aggressions" which could cause people "mental ill-health".
ASKING where someone is from and avoiding eye contact have been branded signs of racism in a newsletter issued by Oxford University.
The institutions Equality and Diversity Unit has said this pair of actions constitute "micro-aggressions" which could cause people "mental ill-health".
Issued at the start of Trinity term, the third term at the university, the newsletter claims that asking someone where they are "originally" from implies they are a foreigner.
It also claims that "Jokes drawing attention to someone's differences and "not speaking directly to people" are potential forms of "everyday racism".
The letter adds that while people doing this may be "well meaning" but that the actions reinforce negative stereotypes, The MailOnline reports.
Oxford University said the advice was part of an attempt encourage equality of opportunity and to fight discrimination.
Students at the university recently took part in a campaign called "I, too, am Oxford", to raise awareness of unconscious racism.
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Pembroke College students are advised by their representatives to report "macro and microaggressions" to a welfare officer.
She will then deal with the issue by "mediation with the other party" or "through the harassment policy".
The news comes just two months after Cambridge university was accused of "misrepresenting" foreign cultures with the food they serve.
Scholars from ethnic minorities moaned to kitchen staff at Pembroke College about the cuisine claiming to be from their native countries including "Jamaican stew" and "Tunisian rice".
The students said they were offended that their cultures weren’t accurately reflected and claimed they didn't eat such dishes back home.
The row was sparked by comments on the college's Facebook page, where one student wrote: “Dear Pembroke catering staff, stop mixing mango and beef and calling it 'Jamaican stew'.
“I'm actually half Jamaican pls show me where in the Caribbean they mix fruit and meat.”
Another complained about “cauliflower, date and tofu tagine with Tunisian rice and coriander yogurt", saying "sorry but what is this we don't eat these tings in Tunisia".
Among the other complaints was a student who told kitchen workers to "sort out your Chinese chicken".
Another moaned: “Don't get me started on the Yorkshire puddings.”