Aberdeen University was urged to take action yesterday after a senior director was caught on video “manhandling” protesting students.
Estate and facilities director Angus Donaldson can be seen jostling individuals at a demonstration in a corridor in support of striking University and College Union (UCU) members.
Rector Maggie Chapman said the academic institution had to “take responsibility” for the behaviour – which she suggested was unacceptable outside a rugby pitch.
But a university spokesman said its investigation was looking at the actions of “everyone who was involved” in Wednesday’s scuffle.
Footage posted by the Aberdeen Students Support the Strike organisation shows Mr Donaldson bending down and shoving his weight behind two students headfirst.
Later in the same video of the fracas between university staff and students, he is seen to be allegedly “manhandling” a female student.
A police spokeswoman said officers were called to attend but no formal complaint has been made by any party.
Yesterday, students continued to protest outside of the university’s offices in support of striking UCU academics – and chanted songs demanding Mr Donaldson step down from his role.
Ms Chapman, who was recently re-elected to the rector post, said she was “very concerned about the behaviour of a senior member of university staff.
“Angus Donaldson, the director of estates and facilities, appears to think he is on a rugby pitch, and is trying to clear students off an imaginary ball,” she said in a statement.
“This might be acceptable in a rugby game, but it is certainly not an acceptable way to treat students.
“Towards the end of the clip, he can be seen manhandling a student against a wall while she shouts ‘do not touch me’ at him.
“She is not resisting. She is not fighting back. She is not causing any disruption.”
Ms Chapman added: “The university needs to take responsibility for this incident – they promised open access to the occupation. Caroline Inglis, university secretary, and Mike Greaves, senior vice principal, both signed a note to this effect.”
Elsewhere in the video, a member of the university’s security staff is seen to collapse onto the ground during the confusion.
A spokesman for the university said the security member was “trampled” on and injured as they tried to deal with a bid by more students to join the protest.
He said: “On Tuesday a group of students entered the university office as part of an intended sit-in and they continue to occupy a part of the building.
“They have been provided with blankets, food and water throughout their occupation.
“Security staff have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of occupiers and the staff at work in the building.
“Relations between our security staff and the occupiers have been positive.
“However, on Wednesday our security staff were subjected to a premeditated, sustained attempt by additional demonstrators to forcibly gain entry to the building.
“This was supported by the occupiers.
“During this incident staff were overpowered and a member of security staff was injured when he was knocked to the ground and trampled on.
“The incident is of serious concern to us, and we have launched a full investigation into the behaviours of everyone who was involved.”
