University professor given 'routine security' after threats from transgender activists
24 January 2020, 09:54
An Oxford University professor has been given security guards to ensure her safety after threats were made against her by transgender activists.
Professor Seina Todd specialises in modern history and particularly the lives of women and the working class has said the 924-year-old university has now provided her with "routine security."
The academic - who has been accused of being a “transphobe” for her involvement in women’s rights advocacy – was told by her students that she was potentially in danger.
The academic told the Telegraph newspaper: “Two students came to see me and said they were very worried that threats had been made to me on email networks they were part of."
“The university investigated the threats and came back to me to say their intelligence on them is such that they are providing me security for all of my lecturers for the rest of this year. They said 'you're having two men in the rest of your lectures'.”
She said at a recent lecture a number of students were wearing transgender activism t-shirts.
She revealed complaints had been made against her to the university because of her teaching on feminist history being treated as "transphobic."
Prof Todd said: “My research suggests that women who posed as men in the past were often lesbians seeking to protect themselves, or because they want to do jobs that were only available to men,” she told reporters.
“The first complaint that was made against me was to say that I was transphobic because it would be impossible for a transgender student to be taught by me.”
An Oxford University spokesman said: 'We cannot comment on individual arrangements.
'However, when staff raise concerns with us, the university will always review the circumstances and offer appropriate support to ensure their safety and their freedom of expression.'
