Feminist Cambridge academic told to get off her former College’s lawn by a student as she posed for a photograph blasts his ‘entitlement’ and claims he wouldn’t have shouted at her if she were a man

The lawns of King’s College, Cambridge, have unusually found themselves at the centre of a sexism row after a feminist academic posed on one for a photo.

Dr Charlotte Proudman, a barrister and research associate in gender inequality at the university, has accused a student of ‘male entitlement’ after he told her to keep off the grass.

The 35-year-old told her Twitter followers that as she posed for a photo on the Front Lawn, a ‘white male student’ shouted at her: ‘If they catch you, you’ll get chucked out.’

She says she retorted that ‘I belong here, my portrait hangs in the College Chapel, not his’.

‘King’s is a beautiful College and has always welcomed me. It’s like a second home,’ the academic went on.

‘The comments made by this man are not a reflection of the College (he may have been a student elsewhere) rather they reflect male entitlement & a deep rooted belief that women like me don’t belong.’

College rules stipulate that completed PhD students, associate fellows and mature masters graduates are allowed to walk on the lawns – but students are not.

Dr Proudman posted this photo on Twitter, taken by her cousin on the Front Lawn at King’s

Twitter users noted that non-students are not allowed to walk on the lawns

Following up on the post, Dr Proudman wrote: ‘I’m so proud of my PhD from King’s College. 

‘No one is going to take away my right to walk on the beautiful, pristine lawn. I worked four years to get that privilege.’

She also addressed reader added context, noting that senior non-resident members of the college – including those with various degrees and titles – are entitled to walk on the grass.

The college’s website says: ‘Senior Non-Resident Members are entitled to walk across the College lawns accompanied by any family and friends.’

Senior Non-Resident Members include those who have been admitted to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by the University.

They also include those who have been admitted to the degree of Master of Arts by the University, provided that a period of at least six years and a term has elapsed since their matriculation.

They include those who have been admitted to the degree of Master of Science, Master of Letters or Master of Philosophy by the University, provided that a period of at least two years and a term has elapsed since admission to that degree

And those above must not current students at the University of Cambridge.

Dr Proudman’s post sparked mixed reactions on Twitter.

User JacovZ said in a post liked 207 times at the time of writing: ‘If only your respect and self-respect were as much as your insufferable entitlement. You’d probably be a more admirable person.’

Sally J. Hall said: ‘I think he was referring to the fact that you are not supposed to be on the grass.’

When Dr Proudman responded: ‘When you have a PhD from King’s, you are allowed on the grass. That’s the point of the tweet.’

To which Ms Hall replied: ‘Maybe do it in full academic dress next time, or just shout “I’m an alumna!” So they know.’

Delia Burgess wrote, in a post liked 168 times: ‘How do you know he wouldn’t have made the same comment if you were male? Big assumption’ 

Dr Proudman says she retorted that ‘I belong here, my portrait hangs in the College Chapel, not his’.

Some agreed with Dr Proudman’s assessment.

BlackBeltBarrister commented under the post: ‘Really? It’s the mouthy student that should be thrown out. Cambridge is better than that.’ 

The academic responded: ‘I was really taken aback. The sheer confidence and sense of entitlement was astounding. 

‘I love King’s and they’ve always been so welcoming, it’s like a second home for me.’