Overview
- Speaking at Cheltenham’s Universities Under Fire panel, the classicist said Cambridge has been “transformed for the better” since her student days.
- She described the institution of the early 1970s as a “white, posh, male enclave” with only about 10% women and little diversity.
- She argued that the lack of “thick white rugger buggers” has improved outcomes, linking their exclusion to fewer third‑class degrees.
- She rejected being “terribly woke” and said she has not feared being cancelled, while noting free‑speech issues can be complex on diverse campuses.
- Reports highlighted her decades‑long association with Cambridge and her habit of reporting online abuse to police, with no university response reported.