The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, one of the most prestigious in the world, acknowledged in an official statement that it was unable to implement effective policies to combat racism. The statement came in response to a review released in December that identified evidence of the crime at the institution. At the request of the school itself, the investigators analyzed official data and documents and interviewed staff and students: 52% of participants of color said they had been a victim of racism or witnessed racist actions and that the institution had not responded to their complaints. Employees of color also said they face more difficulty advancing their careers. Two-thirds of white staff members who applied for associate professor positions between 2017 and 2020 were successful, compared with one-third of staff members of color. “These findings are difficult to confront,” wrote Dr. Liam Smeeth, director of the British school, in a statement. “We deeply regret this and apologize sincerely to everyone affected.” The institution has pledged to revise its equity, diversity, and inclusion plan by the end of January.
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