Female students are perks?

On Wednesday, the Guardian posted about a Buckingham University vice-chancellor who claimed female students were perks of an academic’s job.

The man in question, Terence Kealey, wrote:

“Normal girls – more interested in abs than in labs, more interested in pecs than specs, more interested in triceps than tripos – will abjure their lecturers for the company of their peers, but nonetheless, most male lecturers know that, most years, there will be a girl in class who flashes her admiration and who asks for advice on her essays. What to do? Enjoy her! She’s a perk.”

The Guardian website now has a plethora of comments from readers about the issue, including:

• “At least he’s honest about his lust. It’s better visible than buried.”
• “Some very refreshing comments from a vice-chancellor: a welcome change.”
• “He’s only being honest – I don’t see anything wrong with his comments.”

It’s a complete outrage. This is exactly the sort of behaviour that I worry about when approaching male lecturers or tutors for help with coursework. Please don’t be confused about my interest: I want to understand the material, not be the object of your admiration. To the one lecturer at Edinburgh who routinely bobs his head up and down at female students’ chests and legs, please secure your neck.

Perhaps this wouldn’t be a problem if more lecturers were female. Perhaps then, we could talk about this being an equal situation, where men worry just as much about the propriety of approaching their female lecturers.

But really, I don’t think that should be a burden for any student, male or female. Academic staff should be held accountable as professionals, and not get confused by the often chummy atmosphere of universities, where students and staff work long hours on research, projects, mentoring and course work.

Mr. Kealey’s comments lack professionalism, empathy, or any degree of respect. If I were at Buckingham, I would be petitioning for his removal. It is not often that I find myself advocating for basic respect and equality for women, but this is egregious.