Author Darren McGarvey has formally notified Abertay University that he intends to renounce the honorary Doctor of Letters it awarded him in 2023, following the institution's decision to host the controversial group Justice for Innocent Men Scotland (JIMS) on campus for a second time.
The writer and activist, also known by his rap name Loki, was honoured by the Dundee institution for his commitment to social justice. In a lengthy statement, McGarvey said he was "appalled" by Abertay's decision and found it at odds with the values for which he had been recognised.
JIMS, a sex offender advocacy group accused of harassing victims, first addressed criminology students last year and returned to the university on Friday, November 6. The latest lecture was organised by lecturer Dr Stuart Waiton and featured JIMS speaker Kirsty McDermott.
Why McGarvey is returning the honour
McGarvey said he could not, in good conscience, continue his association with a university whose judgement on the matter he found so at odds with the values for which it once chose to honour him. He gave formal notice of his intention to renounce the honorary degree.
He also demanded that Abertay acknowledge the seriousness of its error, apologise unreservedly to those affected, and commit to ensuring that future invitations are subject to appropriate scrutiny. He said the issue was not about censorship but about weighing the various interests at stake and exercising sound judgement on a case-by-case basis.
"There is a time for free speech and the robust exchange of ideas, but also a time for drawing a line and making clear where we stand," he said.
Concerns over JIMS and the lecture timing
McGarvey, who won the Orwell Prize for political writing in 2018 for his book Poverty Safari, said he recognised the importance of academic freedom and believed controversial ideas should be studied. He questioned why JIMS had been invited to address criminology students without robust challenge, asking what the group could offer that another organisation could not, given the concerns surrounding its conduct and public rhetoric.
He acknowledged that any false accusation against an innocent man should be treated with the utmost legal seriousness, but said JIMS's activities extended well beyond advocating for those who had suffered miscarriages of justice.
The group has previously been accused of harassing sexual assault survivors, with allegations that victims' medical records and details of their children had been posted online, and that members had attended court proceedings to intimidate survivors. Material published on JIMS's own website draws comparisons between the #MeToo movement and witch trials and accuses feminism of becoming a threat to young men. The group has also accused organisations such as Rape Crisis Scotland of pursuing an ideological agenda in schools.
Personal significance of the degree
The timing of the latest lecture has also drawn criticism, as it took place the day after the Russell Brand guilty verdict. McGarvey said the honorary degree had meant a great deal to him as someone who never had the opportunity to attend university as a young person.
"It is therefore with deep regret that I now feel compelled to return an accolade that brought me so much personal pride," he concluded. Abertay University has been contacted for comment.
