The Oxford Chancellorship race is still on, but some candidates have been ruled out much to the dismay of some alumni. Since we speculated who could take on the mantle, the University introduced new regulations on how to elect a chancellor that come into effect today. Oxford alum and founder of Free Speech Union Toby Young criticised the new rules, which include the introduction of a committee. In retaliation, he says he may propose Harry Potter author JK Rowling for the position.
“The existence of this committee and its high-handed stipulations has provoked outrage,” Young wrote in the Spectator. “For the past 300 years, any candidate could put themselves forward if they’d been nominated by 50 graduates of the university. Now, they’ll only be allowed to stand if they pass muster with this self-appointed group of guardians.”
One stipulation causing major uproar says candidates must have “due regard to the principles of equality and diversity.” So, Young has a plan: “My friends and I are thinking of nominating J.K. Rowling on the assumption that she will fail the ‘equality and diversity’ test because of her insistence on ‘misgendering’ trans women. We can then bring a legal case against Oxford for discrimination,” he wrote.
Rowling is known for her strong opinions on trans issues and has previously been cancelled for them and branded a TERF. She is currently in a Twitter/X row with Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf following her comments on Scotland’s new hate crime laws. “It’s a breach of the Equality Act to discriminate against prospective employees because they don’t hold particular beliefs,” Young added. “Let’s hope common sense prevails.”
