Dean Esche and Board of Governors
Middlesex University
The Burroughs
London NW4 4BT
25 May 2010
Dear Dean Esche and Board of Governors,
We write to express our shock and dismay at the suspension of students and Professor Hallward, Professor Osborne, and Dr Kerslake from Middlesex University. They stand accused of defending the practice of excellence in research and teaching against the academic vandalism of the closure of Philosophy at Middlesex. Do you see how this conveys a message that Middlesex has complete disregard for the proper academic and pedagogic values of a university?
These bullying and vindictive suspensions violate a long-standing convention of non-recrimination in university politics. By this move Middlesex University risks making itself an outcast in the international academic community. We urge you to rescind these suspensions and pull back from the disastrous decision to close this highly respected and influential institution.
Yours sincerely,
Members of the Sociology Discipline, University of Manchester:
Dr Bridget Byrne
Professor Nick Crossley, Head of Sociology Discipline
Dr Gemma Edwards
Dr Lucy Gibson
Dr Kevin Gillan
Dr Christian Greiffenhagen
Dr Brian Heaphy
Dr Virinder Kalra
Dr Paul Kelemen
Dr Graeme Kirkpatrick
Dr Vanessa May
Dr Peter McMylor
Dr Richie Nimmo
Dr Navtej Purewal
Professor Sheila Rowbotham
Professor Mike Savage, Director of the ESRC Centre for Research on Socio-Cultural Change
Dr Dale Southerton
Dr Nicholas Thoburn
Professor Alan Warde
Dr Sophie Woodward