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According to a student news website, Calypso Nash, who is also a graduate student at St Hilda¡¯s College, was dismissed for failing to prevent the students from filming themselves taking part in a Harlem Shake ¨C an internet craze that depicts people suddenly dancing crazily, often in costume.

The video, which has been viewed thousands of times, features a woman holding a sign reading ¡°Free Pussy Riot¡±, referring to the Russian feminist punk rock collective, several of whom are currently imprisoned. Another dancer is sporting a horse¡¯s head mask, while a third appears to be dressed as a bear.

Students at St Hilda¡¯s are calling for Ms Nash to be reinstated, Oxford student news website reported. The college¡¯s Junior Common Room has passed a motion requesting ¡°a written reason for the decision from the head librarian¡± and for the matter to be ¡°brought to the attention of the governing body¡±.

Ellen Gibson, a student at St Hilda¡¯s, told the website: ¡°The situation seems ridiculous. The librarian had nothing to do with the protest; she just happened to be there at the time.¡±

A spokesman for St Hilda¡¯s told Times Higher Education the college did not wish to make a comment at this time.

chris.parr@tsleducation.com