Cambridge University rescinds Jordan Peterson’s visiting fellowship after backlash from students, faculty

Cambridge University rescinded Jordan Peterson's offer for a visiting fellowship after students and faculty complained that Peterson wasn't "inclusive" enough for their institution, The Guardian reported.

What are the details?

Peterson, a conservative professor, psychologist, and best-selling author from Toronto, was supposed to begin a fellowship in October at Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Peterson announced the fellowship Monday in a YouTube video. In his announcement, he said, "In October, I am going to Cambridge University in the U.K. for two months and I will be a visiting fellow there at the divinity school and should give me the opportunity to talk to religious experts of all types for a couple of months, as well as students."

"It's a thrill for someone academically minded ... to be invited there, to sit in and participate for a few months," he added.

The university, however, reversed its decision to extend the fellowship to Peterson because of the backlash the administration received over the offer.

In a Wednesday tweet, the university's Faculty of Divinity wrote, "Jordan Peterson requested a visiting fellowship at the Faculty of Divinity, and an initial offer has been rescinded after a further review."

A spokesperson told The Guardian that the school felt that Peterson was apparently unable to "uphold" the principles of the school.

"[Cambridge] is an inclusive environment and we expect all our staff and visitors to uphold our principles," a spokesperson for the school said in a statement. "There is no place here for anyone who cannot."

The Cambridge University student union also issued a statement on the matter.

"We are relieved to hear that Jordan Peterson's request for a visiting fellowship to Cambridge's faculty of divinity has been rescinded following further review," the statement read. "It is a political act to associate the University with an academic's work through offers which legitimise figures such as Peterson."

"His work and views are not representative of the student body and as such we do not see his visit as a valuable contribution to the University, but one that works in opposition to the principles of the University," the statement concluded.

What has Peterson said about this?

Peterson, who often rails against needless political correctness, said he found out that the fellowship offer was reversed through social media.

"It's incomprehensible to me," Peterson told the Daily Caller. "I think it's despicable."

Peterson added that the move is nothing more than "cheap, political posturing."

"I thought collaboration would be in our mutual interest," Peterson said. "Divinity schools are trying desperately hard in the modern world to retain their credibility, authority, and voice, and I don't think there is a phenomena comparable to what happened when I released my lectures on Genesis."

Peterson noted that his critics would be better served listening to what he actually had to say instead of hopping on a misplaced bandwagon.

“I think if the people that are inspired toward enmity by me spend more time reading what I'm saying and less time parroting the same lies, they'd find they have far less reason to oppose my existence," he said.