Baroness Thatcher is at the centre of a new row at Oxford University after plans to name a building after Britain's first female Prime Minister were revealed.
Some academics are hoping to snub one of the university's most illustrious alumnae again - more than 25 years after protests there led to her being denied an honorary degree.

snub: 冷落；严厉斥责；掐灭

illustrious: 著名的，杰出的；辉煌的

Thatcher became the first Oxford educated Prime Minister since the Second World War to be refused an honorary degree from the University in 1985 following student protests amidst cuts to education.

And now 17 years on a new revolt could halt plans to name a new facility after her.

Oxford donor and Syrian born billionaire Wafic Saïd is said to have donated £15 million towards a new facility at Oxford's Saïd Business School, due to open in the autumn, and has indicated that he wants to name it after the women he describes as 'lioness'.

But the news is not being welcomed by everyone.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Bernard Sufrin, a fellow at Worcester College, said signatories would be 'lining up' to force a vote against the 'inconceivable' plans.

signatory：签约国；签名人

inconceivable: 不可思议的；难以置信的；不能想象的；非凡的

He said 'I hope that those responsible for naming the building will take advice from those – now retired – leading members of the University who oversaw the embarrassing fiasco of an honorary degree for Mrs Thatcher being proposed only to be rejected by a large majority of the Congregation.

fiasco: 惨败

'It is inconceivable that Congregation would accede to such a naming.'

Mr Siad has long been and admirer of The Iron Lady and is given the naming opportunity because he has provided at least 51 per cent of capital funding to the building.
In 1996 he donated £23 million to establish the Saïd Business School at the university and he has since made an additional £15 million donation to help pay for the new building.

In order for the naming to get the go ahead it must first go before a series of administrative committees and subcommittees made up of academics and officials.

subcommittee: 委员会的附属委员会

回顾：【读报笔记】系列>>

点击查看口译备考专题，阅读更多相关文章！