Someone wrote ‘Happy International Women’s Day’ on steps at Oxford University and guess who ended up scrubbing it off?
People thought this wasn’t a very good look for Oxford University today.
https://twitter.com/DrSophieSmith/status/971714934819184640
The picture went viral, shared 3,000 times on Twitter, and prompted a rapid response from the university.
We are deeply sorry for this and for offence caused. International Women's Day is hugely important to Oxford. This should not have happened.
— Oxford University (@UniofOxford) March 8, 2018
I appreciate your apology, but far more importantly can you please make sure that the woman asked to remove the message receives a heartfelt apology, a warm cup of tea, the rest of the day off and, along with all our precarious staff, good enough pay to live in this city.
— Sophie Smith (@DrSophieSmith) March 8, 2018
Wow. Is this a photo or a Banksy??!
— Bryan (@jeerumba) March 8, 2018
Coming soon to a wall near you! pic.twitter.com/eb2nyXL9Yk
— Graham Love (@GLove39) March 8, 2018
Except, well, not everyone was outraged. Well, they were, just for a different reason.
Wait a second here. Isn't this that womans ACTUAL job? If she's doing the job she's paid to do then where is the offence? I'd like to hear her story before y'all go up in arms about repression and the fucking Patriarchy again.
— Brummieblue (@bblueefc) March 8, 2018
She’s a cleaner that’s paid to clean and she’s getting rid of some graffiti. There are male cleaners out there who would have had to clean that aswell but it just happened to be a woman. Non-story in my eyes. I’m all for equality but there will always be male and female cleaners.
— Jamie Birkett (@Birkett938) March 8, 2018
No, they're just removing graffiti, which is what it is. It's essentially vandalism isn't it. Nothing to do with international women's day.
— Dorbs (@dorbs84) March 8, 2018
Although it might be a bit more complicated than that.
No, it's not vandalism. Go into any Oxford college and you'll see (usually rowing) events celebrated in chalk on the old stone walls. It's Tradition.
— Ancient Sounds is on strike (@sounds_ancient) March 8, 2018
No, it is vandalism as it was clearly added without permission or it wouldn't be getting scrubbed off. What you're describing is an approved tradition.
— Jack Macartney (@JackMacartney) March 8, 2018
It is an approved tradition, yes, and within the University's Code of Conduct on freedom of speech. So it doesn't need permission (that's freedom) and it's not vandalism. Thank you all for a lively discussion, but I have no more to say.
— Ancient Sounds is on strike (@sounds_ancient) March 8, 2018
Oh, and while we’re here, this could be the Twitter exchange people enjoyed most.
Hi Sophie, Could we please use your image on MailOnline with credit? Many Thanks!
— Mail Online Pictures (@Mailonlinepics) March 8, 2018
No, you do not have my permission to use this image anywhere on MailOnline, nor in print.
— Sophie Smith (@DrSophieSmith) March 8, 2018