University says ‘no update’ on investigation into racism at Exeter Law School, one month after vile messages were made public

Avatar photo

By Katie King on

Five law students suspended after their WhatsApp conversations posted online

There have been no updates from the University of Exeter about the status of its investigation into racism at its law school, exactly one month since Legal Cheek reported on the scandal.

Vile WhatsApp messages sent between law students on a group chat were outed by final year Arsalan Motavali when he posted them to Facebook last month. The messages included racist slurs such as: “dirty arab” and “bomb the mosques”.

One of the students involved had received a training contract offer from Hill Dickinson, which was swiftly revoked by the firm. Another had been the brand ambassador for City outfit RPC; it too cut ties with the student immediately.

Though the university suspended the students involved within hours of the messages coming to light and launched an investigation, Legal Cheek has been told by an Exeter spokesperson there are no further updates at this time.

The latest comments from across Legal Cheek

But that’s not to say all has fallen silent since the WhatsApp messages were shared with the world.

Just days after Motavali’s post was made, an anti-racism protest took place on Exeter’s Streatham campus. Organised in just two days, an estimated 300 students attended the rally, bringing with them all manner of placards.

A student at the anti-racism rally. Image credit: Facebook @ExeterUnmask

As for the five students suspended in the racism row, Legal Cheek understands just one, Matthew Bell, has issued an apology. He said:

“I will not attempt to excuse and deny any of the statements I have made. The comments, which I shall not repeat, are inexcusable and undeniably wrong. I would like to make it publicly known that I do not honestly believe any of the things I have said.”

For all the latest commercial awareness info, and advance notification of Legal Cheek's careers events:

Sign up to the Legal Cheek Hub

Related Stories

Exeter law students embroiled in racism scandal suspended over vile WhatsApp messages

University and police investigating -- as one student has training contract offer revoked

Mar 20 2018 11:29am

Warwick University law careers adviser cleared of intentional racism after student allegations

But she was found to have ‘exercised poor judgement’

Jan 2 2018 2:05pm

Britain’s first black female High Court judge opens up about racism at the bar

Clerks would Tippex out her name on briefs and write in the name of male pupil they wanted to be the tenant

Mar 30 2016 1:11pm