City of Glasgow College under fire for lecturer’s ‘Nazi’ symbols

City of Glasgow college under fire for lecturer's Nazi symbols (Image: Newsquest) Staff and students have criticised City of Glasgow College as they accused it of failing to address concerns over a lecturer who exposed classes to far-right symbols. Lecturer Russell MacEwan has tattoos of both the Wolfsangel and Black Sun symbols, both of which are associated with Nazi Germany and the far-right.

The former is banned in Germany and has been used by groups such as Ukraine's Azov Battalion, North American group Aryan Nations and Italy's Terza Posizione. The Black Sun originated in the Third Reich and was used by the SS, and was deployed by the Christchurch shooter, Brenton Tarrant, and Payton S. Gendron, who killed 10 people in a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York.

Mr MacEwan previously used the name Black Sun for his industrial metal band, though says the name was not inspired by the Nazis. In a Zoom lecture during the period of Covid lockdown, a swastika was visible on the fridge behind him. The lecturer is also said to have directed students to his social media account, which featured artwork depicting the Zyklon-B poison which was used to massacre Jewish people and others during the holocaust, pictures of Nazi soldiers and Hitler Youth, a doll wearing a swastika jumper and a nurse wearing a flak helmet with a swastika on it.

The Herald: Russell MacEwan's art which students were directed to

Russell MacEwan's art which students were directed to (Image: Newsquest)

Also on Mr MacEwan's social media profiles was a painting on acrylic depicting a valknot, which has also been displayed by white supremacists.

The staff code of conduct for City of Glasgow College states that all staff must be "dressed appropriately for the work undertaken in the college" and that "all staff have a responsibility to positively promote diversity and equality".