Offence

It keeps on happening: Stories of sexism and crazy initiation rituals, the global #metoo movement, and guidelines on offensive behaviour keep the University of Copenhagen at the centre of a stormy debate.

»Ladies and gentleman,« Mille Mortensen said in the classroom with several non-binary students. And put her foot in it. She says that head of department Mette Sandbye's recommendations to ensure that all students are included would have been the help that she had needed.

Students on the sociology programme at the University of Copenhagen say they are being forced to offend minority groups in a compulsory course where they act out excerpts from a book about life in a poor American city area. The head of the study programme defends the subject’s methodology.

Student Flavio Sabah Saleh rejects the Danish so-called ‘hygge-racism’. But others see stereotypical jokes and expressions as a path to familiarity and friendship.

Is there a culture of victimhood at the University of Copenhagen? Oh, yes. But what this means is a lot harder to get a hold on. As no one wants to be the offended party.

Giving offence should not lead directly to a disciplinary meeting. UCPH should amend its guidelines for offensive behaviour in the new year. Most participants agreed with this at an internal debate on the UCPH zero-tolerance policy.