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Academic staff suspended at Middlesex University

Three philosophers have been banned from entering university premises or contacting students.

By Mike Sweeney Published 25 May 2010 16:02

The ongoing dispute over the future of Middlesex University's highly regarded philosophy department was ratcheted up a notch on Friday, when students and three members of the academic staff -- Professors Peter Osborne, Peter Hallward and Christian Kerslake -- were suspended from the university, pending an investigation into their role in a second occupation at the university's Trent Park campus.

Protesters entered campus buildings on Thursday 20 May and remained in the university library from 6.45pm until 8am the following morning, in a sit-in that took place six days after a previous occupation ended following the granting of a high court injunction.

According to the Save Middlesex Philosophy blog, university management responded on Thursday by locking the doors of the main campus building and contacting the police, but when officers arrived it was decided that the injunction obtained by the university on 14 May did not apply to the sit-in, and protesters were permitted to stay.

However, the university today alleged that a second group of protesters "forcibly entered the building" during the evening, thereby breaching the injunction. In a statement released to the New Statesman today, a university spokesperson said:

The university has to intervene when protest is illegal or puts the health and safety of staff at risk. On Thursday 20 May, an occupation of the library at Trent Park occurred when a group of individuals refused to leave the building, and a further group forcibly entered the building, in breach of a High Court injunction granted to the university on 14 May. The previous occupation at Trent Park resulted in assaults and injuries to members of staff who were legitimately trying to safeguard the staff and students who were working in the buildings.

The fight to save Middlesex's philosophy department is one front in a wider struggle, as university administrations find themselves forced to make substantial cuts after the government reduced the higher education budget by half a billion pounds.

The decision to suspend Osborne, Hallward and Kerslake from their posts has triggered a flurry of letters of condemnation from fellow academics.

In a letter dated 21 May, Graham Harman, associate professor of philosophy at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, wrote:

With yesterday's suspensions of Professors Hallward [and] Osborne, and several students, I fear we are seeing a merely vindictive gesture that threatens genuine long-term damage to your institution. We have heard of "outlaw nations", but never of "outlaw universities". Yet the possible danger now arises of Middlesex becoming just such a pariah. Your administrators did nothing yesterday but turn Hallward and Osborne into international martyrs. Even if all ethics and justice were taken out of the picture, the suspensions are a clumsy overreaction in purely realpolitik terms. Please: it is not too late for cooler heads to prevail.

John Protevi, professor of French studies at Louisiana State University, also wrote to the governing body, claiming that administrators were "at risk of permanently besmirching the reputation of your university" and that "an organised boycott is a real possibility at this point".

Asked how management had come to the decision to close the philosophy department at Middlesex, despite its record of achievement, the university's spokesperson said: "The university consulted at length with the staff involved for six months prior to making its decision.

"Members of the executive also conducted several meetings with philosophy staff after the decision had been made."

You can follow the campaign to save Middlesex's philosophy department by clicking here.

Tags: Philosophy  education

 
 

36 comments

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:16 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Мучаешься от боли? Это самое сильное средство! http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4854

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:16 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Мучаешься от боли? Это самое сильное средство! http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4854

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:16 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Самый страшный опиодный наркотик! Из чего он http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4851

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:16 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Мучаешься от боли? Это самое сильное средство! http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4854

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:16 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Самый страшный опиодный наркотик! Из чего он http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4851

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:16 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Мучаешься от боли? Это самое сильное средство! http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4854

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:15 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Самый страшный опиодный наркотик! Из чего он http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4851

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:15 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Мучаешься от боли? Это самое сильное средство! http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4854

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:15 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Самый страшный опиодный наркотик! Из чего он http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4851

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:15 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Мучаешься от боли? Это самое сильное средство! http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4854

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:15 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Мучаешься от боли? Это самое сильное средство! http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4854

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:15 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Самый страшный опиодный наркотик! Из чего он http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4851

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:15 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Самый страшный опиодный наркотик! Из чего он http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4851

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:15 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Мучаешься от боли? Это самое сильное средство! http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4854

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:15 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Самый страшный опиодный наркотик! Из чего он http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4851

VerDawbroar's picture

Thu, 2012-04-12 00:15 — VerDawbroar (not verified)

Самый страшный опиодный наркотик! Из чего он http://tor4.su/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4851

tc's picture

Wed, 2010-05-26 00:44 — tc (not verified)

So - is it time to put pressure on the current administration to be fired? Who is the board accountable to?

David Barry's picture

Fri, 2010-05-28 00:53 — David Barry (not verified)

I would suggest that Mr Bouvier consider the precedents that are being set here. I am very concerned at what happens in Middlesex for the simple reason that free universities underpin the sort of civil society I would like my children to grow up in. I have no connection with Middlesex, nor am I an academic.

David Bouvier's picture

Wed, 2010-05-26 14:29 — David Bouvier (not verified)

Seems to be a distinct lack of critical perspective from the students and teachers here - all rather inward looking and self-regarding.

This is not important to anyone except themselves.

eva's picture

Wed, 2010-05-26 14:39 — eva (not verified)

Its important to me and I'm not a Middlesex student or teacher. It's also important to the 17,000+ people who have signed the petition.

Maybe what you meant to say is that its not important to you. Which is fine, but I don't think you can speak for other people.

renemcguire26's picture

Fri, 2010-05-28 14:56 — renemcguire26

David Bouvier seems to have a distinct lack of

renemcguire26's picture

Fri, 2010-05-28 15:13 — renemcguire26

David Bouvier seems to have a distinct lack of critical perspective. Far from being inward-looking or self-regarding those involved in the campaign have consistently contextualised their own struggle within a wider struggle against the commodification of education. The shameful closure of philosophy at middlesex and the scandalous suspensions of the staff and students who responded to that closure in a highly reasonable manner should matter to anyone who believes that education should be for the common good rather than merely for private profit.

renemcguire26's picture

Fri, 2010-05-28 15:19 — renemcguire26

suggested reading: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2010/05/17/protevi

Jakobin's picture

Tue, 2010-05-25 16:42 — Jakobin (not verified)

The statement from the 'board of governors', which includes the Vice-Chancellor - Mr. Michael Driscoll - who has already made these unfounded allegations of criminal behaviour in the past continues to be based on fiction and not fact at every level. Funny how the police didn't try to interview anyone about those 'assaults and injuries' isn't it? Instead they explicitly said that they weren't getting involved because no criminal action had transpired.
This is about the right to protest. Our protests are not illegal and Mr. Driscoll cannot change that in his delusional proclamations.

suicideally's picture

Tue, 2010-05-25 17:18 — suicideally (not verified)

Forcibly entered the building? A bunch of philosophy students and some staff from other courses at the School of Arts and Education sitting around in the library and refusing to leave when it closed counts as forcible now, does it?

A further point to note is that management didn't communicate the suspensions to students affected by the suspension of their tutors (e.g. students with MA dissertation proposals due in the next two weeks); we had to find out via the grapevine. We receive no adequate communication from management, just slurs and falsehoods.

Lord Snowleopard's picture

Tue, 2010-05-25 17:25 — Lord Snowleopard (not verified)

I am still waiting for the evidence of all the accusations of the occupations 'violent' behaviour. The Management keep on claiming that there were injuries, but has yet to prove such an accusation, their lies are a shameful disgrace. I really hope this official boycott is happening.

dave's picture

Sat, 2010-05-29 03:12 — dave (not verified)

i can confirm that there were injuries to security staff one of which was taken to hospital in an ambulance and several students were aware of this as they appaluaded the officers departure as they were the last officer to leave the building, so the claims made on this page that there were no assaults or injuries are ridiculous

pep's picture

Tue, 2010-05-25 17:35 — pep (not verified)

let's not forget that this action is enmarked within a wider bullying manouvre from bureaucrats against the humanities (philosophy but also history, sociology, languages, etc)... against anything that doesn't atract capital investment... universities are meant to be nurturing institutions, not shopping centres...

carmen's picture

Tue, 2010-05-25 17:41 — carmen (not verified)

We are definitely in the age of blind, senseless, stupid administration and we were warned many years ago about the drift of visionary people in education...we now have the expulsion of visionary people from universities!

S. G. Caughey's picture

Tue, 2010-05-25 17:56 — S. G. Caughey (not verified)

I have yet to see any substantiation of the claims of personal injury to staff or security. Unless this surfaces, these remain outrageous claims that undermine the position of the administration.

CircSqu's picture

Tue, 2010-05-25 17:59 — CircSqu (not verified)

In recent days I have begun to think this but now I am completely convinced: The only possible next step for the resistance to this decision and its aftermath is legal action against the administration.

The administration has made clear that there are no depths it will not stoop to in order to crush entirely peaceful dissent. It is willing to evade, delay, go to the High Court, spread disinformation, lie and even suspend (and, it seems likely, expel) entirely innocent staff and students with no semblance of due process or reason (let alone justice) whatsoever. Brian Leiter commented on his blog that this sort of behaviour from an institution in the US would result in law suits being filed - and won. John Protevi in his email to the administrators mentioned the possibility of financial, legal and political action from the relevant professional organisations.

It might be about time for philosophers and other concerned citizens to put their hands in their pockets and set up a legal fund (particularly for the cases of students who may be expelled but also for resisting the closure as a whole).

So long as this fight remains legally asymmetrical (i.e. one side have lawyers and the other side don't) it will continue to be a situation where the big institution can unilaterally bully and intimidate with impunity. It is sad that protest alone is so impotent without establishing legal connections but that is how it is, it seems.

Also, a petition should be formed and circulated allowing people to declare that they are completely and totally boycotting Middlesex until the decision is reversed, students and staff are reinstated and unequivocal apologies are issued (if there is no such thing set up already). They haven't responded to countless declarations of outrage but they might respond to being told that a whole swarm of senior academics won't have anything to do with the "University" for the rest of their careers and will do everything in their power to discourage others from doing so if they don't retreat from their present position.

Philosophy at Middlesex is not the first case of this kind and it won't be the last but it could well be a tipping point. The fight simply must be won.

eva's picture

Tue, 2010-05-25 18:01 — eva (not verified)

"The fight to save Middlesex's Philosophy department is one front in a wider struggle, as university administrations find themselves forced to make substantial cuts after the government reduced the higher-education budget by half a billion pounds."

This isn't simply a case of the administrators forced to make cuts. The financial argument in the case of closing this department is unconvincing - although it is precisely under the subterfuge of the broader economic situation that the administrators think they can get away with this action.

dawesto's picture

Tue, 2010-05-25 18:48 — dawesto (not verified)

"at risk of permanently besmirching the reputation of your university"

Too late. The reputation is now besmirched and I can't imagine anyone recommending that students pursue graduate degrees at Middlesex or that quality faculty would want to work at a school led by these administrators. The incompetence of the Middlesex administration and Board is striking.

Paulo Gonçalves's picture

Tue, 2010-05-25 20:02 — Paulo Gonçalves (not verified)

The allegations of forcible entry, violence and injury to staff are blatant lies. It is astonishing that the institution has stooped so low. Or is it?

radicaldog's picture

Tue, 2010-05-25 20:20 — radicaldog (not verified)

University managers are not "forced" to make cuts: they are exploiting the crisis to make cuts that suits their plans to turn the universities into cash cows to further fatten their bloated salaries.

Eric's picture

Tue, 2010-05-25 20:29 — Eric (not verified)

I am not alone in the conviction that I would never, under any circumstances agree to work for Middlesex University under the current administration. Nor would I allow any student under my advisement to seriously consider attending.

Middlesex administration have not only shot themselves in the foot, they've cut their own legs off. The bottom line financial picture that got this whole fiasco started has gotten considerably darker due to Middlesex mismanagement.

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