Thug Life Army

The Assistant Dean of New College withdrew permission to host an event at the college featuring hip-hop political activist and rap artist KRS-One just five hours before the scheduled start on Monday evening, allegedly stating that ‘outsiders’ would come and ‘cause trouble’.

Dr Andrew Smith, the Assistant Dean, told the Oxford Contemporary Arts Society (OCAS), which hosted the event, on Monday afternoon that the speaker event could not be held at the college.

The President of the Oxford Contemporary Arts Society (OCAS), who does not wish to be named, suggests that a major reason given for this was that the event with the rap artist would attract ‘people from outside the University’ who would come and ‘cause trouble’. Dr Smith, speaking to The Oxford Student, acknowledged that there was concern that non-University members would attend the event, given that it had been advertised on a public website.

He stressed however that such concerns were primarily related to safety, in the event of large numbers of people descending on the college, and potential disruption to finalists. Dr Smith also highlighted that permission was withdrawn because of the £3 charge, which potentially undermined the college’s charitable status.

The President of OCAS, speaking for the society, said that there was ‘collective disappointment’ over the incident given that OCAS’ aim is to ‘promote discussion across the community’. The short-notice given forced OCAS to relocate the event to Christ Church where it was so well-attended that it had to be moved into the JCR.