“Student equality campaigners” are not happy that the final of the “University Challenge” between Wolfson, Cambridge and Balliol, Oxford does not include a single female.
They’re particularly upset with the show’s production company, ITV Studios, for even allowing all-male teams to compete.
According to the Daily Mail, Wolfson College Equality and Diversity Officer Azita Chellappoo — in a seeming attempt to justify her ridiculous title — said that “university quizzing societies can be ‘very hostile to women.'”
“Trolling” on social media and “unwanted attention” often given to Challenge contestants lead to potential female contestants being discouraged from participating, she said.
As a solution, Chellappoo thinks gender quotas would be a good idea.
‘I think quotas would be a really good idea, or if not formal quotas, guidelines at the very least. I don’t think all-male teams should be allowed on the show.
‘Greater representation on University Challenge is an important part of encouraging more women to join the quizzing scene, and to showcase the intellectual capacities of women at UK universities.’
Whilst universities, or individual colleges in the case of Oxbridge, are responsible for selecting their own teams, ITV Studios only selects 28 teams to take part, and therefore a vetting process does take place.
Viewers have threatened to boycott the show over the final being an all-male contest for the third time in five years.
The Balliol team declined a request for comment, and Wolfson’s hugely popular captain Eric Monkman said he had ‘no comments’ on the matter.
A University Challenge spokesperson said: ‘Each team is determined by the universities themselves and whilst we do encourage them to reflect the diversity of their student population ultimately each university has their own team selection process.’
Here’s some ideas: Get an all-female together to participate, and/or don’t use social media hassles as an excuse; simply stay away from it if you don’t like “trolling.”
And is it me or does an “equality and diversity officer” sound way too much like an old Iron Curtain secret police “political officer”?
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