Cambridge has pledged to increase security presence on Sidgwick Site after students of colour on site were “subjected to racist remarks”.

On Monday 21 October, students of colour were approached by a passer-by near the Alison Richards Building on the University’s humanities campus. This person “made a series of racist remarks,” according to the University. Students were “shocked” and “deeply distressed”.

The Department of History has pledged to do “everything they can” to support students, including increasing security on site.

“Nobody should have to face abuse of this nature and everybody who works and studies on the Sidgwick Site will be appalled at this incident,” they said.

“Please be assured that the University security team will be stepping up their presence on the site to prevent any repetition,” they added.

Cambridgeshire police are currently investigating the incident, which is being treated as racially motivated.

This comes amid reports of students facing racial discrimination within the University, and follows calls for Cambridge to crack down on “race realist” research fellow Nathan Cofnas, who still works at the University’s Philosophy department.

In March, Varsity spoke to students from ethnic minority backgrounds about their experiences being subjected to “racial profiling” by their college porters. Students claimed to have experienced being treated with suspicion, feeling unsafe in their own colleges, and being stopped upon entry far more frequently than their white friends.

In February, Varsity also revealed that Black students at Cambridge are nearly four times less likely to be awarded a First than their peers.

A spokesperson for the University of Cambridge told Varsity: “The University abhors racism in any form”. They confirmed that the police have been investigating the incident on 21 October and encouraged students to report any further incidents or emergencies to them on 01223 331818.”