University Volume 22 | Issue Sevem | Tuesday 29th January 2019
Express UCCExpress.ie
UCC to Review Ties with Nobel Prize Winner Ciaran Dineen, News Editor
C
alls have been made for University College Cork to cut its ties with well-known scientist and former Nobel Prize Winner, Dr James Watson. This comes in light of comments repeated by Watson, 90, in which is claimed that there is a correlation between race and intelligence. In 2007 Dr Watson, who helped discover the structure of DNA, said that in reference to the prospects of Africa that “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours, whereas all the testing says, not really.” In 2016 when UCC decided to name a building after the 90 year-old they were questioned over their decision but stood firm on the reasons for doing so. However, in a recent documentary with an American network, Watson unashamedly reiterated his views by saying, “there’s a difference on the average between blacks and whites on IQ tests. I would say the difference is, it’s genetic.” As a direct
Protests over fees and placement payment for pharmacy students saw changes in leglislation, allowing students to recieve payment for their placment internships. Photo: @KarinCarthy via Twitter. result fresh calls have been made to UCC administrators to now sever their ties with Dr Watson in light of these comments. Speaking to the Irish Examiner a few weeks ago, Professor John McInerney of the Department of Physics in UCC said “every trace of this vile and loathsome individual should be scrubbed from this university and any other institution which he may have contaminated with his actual or virtual presence, even temporarily, over the years.
This extirpation should be as quick of the building’s name. In a letter and public as possible so that he is addressed to the Deputy President, Prof Finnegan said, “it is our view still alive to witness it.” On the other hand people of a different that the naming decision does opinion may feel like such an action constitute a significant impairment is over-the-top given Dr Watson’s to the University’s reputation. incredibly important contribution Given the symbolic and practical to science and such remarks don’t significance of honorific processes, discredit his work. However, this we would like to strongly urge the sentiment is certainly not felt by the group to present a recommendation Chair of the Equality Committee, for revocation.” She went on to Professor Nuala Finnegan, who argue that the comments made by Dr has had a petition filtered to all Watson do not reflect the values that UCC stands for, these being equality, students to back the revocation Continued on page 3
24 Hour Bus Service
Generation Gender
Film: Oscar Contenders
Réim Vegeánach
Page 5 News
Page 11 Features
Page 18 Byline
Page 33 Gaeilge
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