Cambridge University college in row over colonial-themed ball

A leading college at Cambridge University has found itself at the centre of controversy after choosing a colonial theme for this year's May Ball in celebration of the British Empire.

Emmanuel College is holding its annual black tie event to commemorate the Empire, which once "governed over a quarter of the world's population".

It promises guests a trip through the Indian Raj, Australia, the West Indies and 19th century Hong Kong as it "celebrates the Victorian commonwealth and all of its decadences".

But the June 14 event, where tickets range from £106 to £136, has been castigated by critics who accused the college of being "ignorant, offensive and distasteful".

It also prompted a flurry of opposing views from students on the internet social networking website Facebook.

In its advertising, the ball's organisers wrote: "The British Empire was the biggest empire ever, bar none.

"They say that the sun never set on the British Empire - but at the Empire ball, you'll be wishing it never rises. We invite you to celebrate the Pax Britannica and party like it's 1899".

But one disgruntled student pointed out that the last year of the 19th century saw the start of the Boer War and the first use of concentration camps.

A spokesman for the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight said: "For a leading university like Cambridge, it is amazing how ignorant some people can be. A theme like this is not a joke, it's very offensive.

"If you are white and upper class, you have grown up in this kind of atmosphere, so maybe it does not get into your head that this can be distasteful.

"Colonialism is associated with repression and exploitation and slavery. We are not thin-skinned but you have to draw the line somewhere."

On Facebook, student Joanna Beaufoy set up the 'Emma against the Empire' group which called for the name of the ball - sponsored by John Lewis Cambridge, Sri Lankan airlines and Moss Bros - to be changed.

She wrote: "The British Empire oversaw countless atrocities, assumed an immense sense of cultural superiority which has sustained to this day, and destabilised dozens of developing governments.

"We don't think that it should be associated with a big party, despite the apparent 'decadences' of the regime. 1930s Berlin was also rather decadent."

She was backed by Laurence Doering who said: "The current theme implies a celebration of an unacceptable regime.

"Beyond that, however, it also nurtures the myth of white, upper-class, old-wealth Cambridge and is divisive and unnecessarily provocative."

But others dismissed the complaints as nonsense and ridiculed the idea of changing the name.

Student Chris Chapman said: "Are you actually all insane? Commonwealth May Ball?! The theme is Empire for a reason - we celebrate the positive aspects of Empire in an opulent and overtly luxurious setting, not the ramshackle institution we call the Commonwealth."

Mark Renshaw added: "The negative connotations of 'Empire', and there are justifiably many, are not the ones that will be celebrated at the ball.

"It is entirely possible to enjoy a ball without dwelling on negatives of the theme."

Richard Hilton, joint president of the ball's committee, said: "The committee considered the implications of the theme thoroughly and ensured that we had the support of the college in making our decision.

"We appreciate that any historical theme will inevitably have positive and negative connotations, but we are neither advocating nor condoning any point of view associated with the late Victorian period or its subsequent interpretation.  continues here

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