Student makes vow over race case at university

Published on Wednesday 20 January 2010 19:34

AN INDIAN student who accused a leading university of racial discrimination yesterday vowed to take her case to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, despite receiving letters of apology.

The Scotsman revealed last October that Dr Marline John, 35, who was studying for a postgraduate degree in medical molecular genetics at Aberdeen University, had alleged that undergraduates were given marks "based on the colour of their skin" and that university staff had made racial remarks about Asian students.

She has received a letter from Dr Gillian Mackintosh, the university's Academic Registrar, apologising for the "unacceptable" delay in responding to her complaint.

Dr John said yesterday that she found the ten-month delay in dealing with her case unfair and unacceptable.

A spokeswoman for Aberdeen University said:

"The university acknowledged that there were some shortcomings in procedures, for which we have apologised."