At the end of this week, the University of York will recognise the significant contributions and efforts of five individuals, including Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered Stephen, on behalf of the University and society by awarding them each with an honorary degree.
British human rights campaigner Lawrence has succsesfully campaigned for a change in racial equality. When her son was murdered in 1993, Doreen powerfully struggled to review the handling of the case and bring justice to those who deserved it with a judicial review. She founded the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and is a patron of HateUK.
Others receiving the awards are the chairman of the Nippon Foundation, an award winning historian, a BAFTA winning playwright and the lawyer who helped to obtain planning permission for Heslington East.
A spokesperson from the university explained that the five chosen “join a roll call of outstanding individuals on whom the university has conferred honorary degrees in the past.”
Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Yohei Sasakawa, has strong links to the university post-war reconstruction and development unit and has promoted social development throughout the world. One of his most marked achievements is getting medical examinations for 200,000 children who were victimized by the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster.
Bettany Hughes will be honored for her promotion of education in schools. As an award-winning historian and long standing patron of the Iris Project she has made a huge contribution.
Trevor Griffiths is the BAFTA awarded playwright among those to be honored. The incredibly talented writer has freely given up his time to help students at our university; he has given talks and offered invaluable advice as well as giving master classes.
As Heslington East thrives, the lawyer who was central to “helping the university gain planning permission for its Heslington East Campus expansion” will receive a degree on Friday. Frances Patterson is also the commissioner with the law commission for the UK and Wales.
Celia Scruby, University of York Media Chair, stated: “I think that it’s important that York is seen to recognise these achievements. Its great that York is seen to have its finger on the cultural button.”
Students believe that it is right to make awards such as these and the individuals who are being recognised have thoroughly earned their degrees after impressive contributions to society.
Chris Robert, a second year English student, told Vision: “the Uni has chosen the awarded really well. These people have all made vast improvements to our society and deserve to be honoured as they have been.”
Honorary degrees are fascinating things. The University should be honored that these individuals decided to be remarkable. The headline is a bit misleading it should read ‘Trevor Griffiths receives honorary degree’ or ‘Doreen Lawrence received honorary degree’ etc.
The focus should be on the recipients of the award, rather than the institution that is self-righteously giving the award. After all, York has not achieved anything by awarding the degree.