Jewish college snubbed

Middlesex University turned down a collaboration with an overseas college because of its "Jewishness", The THES has learnt.

In a document condemned by academics and students, Middlesex's deputy vice-chancellor, Ken Goulding, wrote to Touro College in New York, explaining that the university was unlikely to enter into a partnership with it, "given the concerns of colleagues about the 'Jewishness' (sorry - I can't think of a better description) of the college and its academic provision".

This week, Geoffrey Alderman, former pro vice-chancellor at Middlesex, who was until recently a vice-president at Touro, said the letter was "shocking", not least because Mr Goulding had been a colleague of his at Middlesex.

"A university where the deputy vice-chancellor can write in such terms needs to reflect very carefully on its so-called equal opportunities and non-discrimination policy," said Professor Alderman, a former member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, now academic dean at the American InterContinental University in London.

A spokeswoman for Middlesex said that Professor Goulding regretted that his words were capable of being "misconstrued" and that the letter "reflected concerns about gender segregation in some of Touro's teaching". She said that the university believed "fundamentally in diversity and equality of access and educational opportunity".

But the Union of Jewish Students said it was not convinced by the explanation, and said it would be making formal representations to the university.

"At best, this shows a worrying lack of cultural understanding, and at worst, it is an absolute disgrace," said UJS campaigns manager Clive Gabbay. "There are a lot of Jewish students studying at Middlesex and for a senior member of staff to say that, it is going to make it very, very uncomfortable to be a Jew at Middlesex." He said that the comments were particularly alarming given an upsurge in anti-Semitism on campus following events in the Middle East.

The Middlesex spokeswoman said the reference to "Jewishness" was made in correspondence in 2000 between Professor Goulding and Professor Alderman.

She said: "Middlesex University offers entry to its programmes to everyone, regardless of race, gender and age. At one of Touro's campuses there was segregation between men and women. Such segregation runs counter to the ethos of Middlesex University where both genders... are taught together."

The spokeswoman added: "Phrases used by Professor Goulding may be misunderstood out of context. The context was a letter between two colleagues. A telephone conversation and a subsequent reply from Geoffrey Alderman made clear that Professor Goulding's point was fully understood and dialogue continued afterwards on future collaboration in areas where there was no gender segregation.

"Middlesex University is not anti-Semitic. Professor Goulding is not anti-Semitic. The university is immensely proud of its work with a wide range of Jewish partners, including two colleges in Israel and one in north London."