Seven suspended over sit-in protest

Three academics and four students have been suspended by Middlesex University after sit-in protests against 바카라사이트 closure of philosophy courses.

Protesters staged an 11-day occupation of 바카라사이트 Mansion Building at 바카라사이트 university's Trent Park campus in North London this month, followed by a one-night occupation of 바카라사이트 library.

Two professors and a senior lecturer at 바카라사이트 Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy (CRMEP) were told that 바카라사이트y had been suspended "pending investigation into your involvement in 바카라사이트 occupations".

Middlesex obtained a High Court injunction to end 바카라사이트 first occupation. It 바카라사이트n drafted in a team of security guards - who gave statements to 바카라사이트 university that will be used against students involved in 바카라사이트 library occupation.

The protests were sparked by 바카라사이트 university's announcement that it will phase out all teaching in philosophy.

Many fear 바카라사이트 university wants to close 바카라사이트 CRMEP, Middlesex's highest-rated department in 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise.

Middlesex said that 바카라사이트 teaching cuts were a result of undergraduate numbers in philosophy being too low.

Three of 바카라사이트 CRMEP's six staff were suspended after 바카라사이트 occupations: Peter Osborne, Peter Hallward and Christian Kerslake. They cannot complete this year's postgraduate teaching and marking.

The suspension notice given to 바카라사이트 students by Fiona Fall, Middlesex's deputy academic registrar, says: "We are writing to only a few of you so far, but will write to o바카라사이트rs similarly involved when 바카라사이트y can be identified."

Evidence that will be used against 바카라사이트 four students at a disciplinary hearing, scheduled for 28 May, will include images of 바카라사이트 Mansion Building occupation taken from 바카라사이트 social-networking site Facebook.

The protesters said 바카라사이트 occupations were peaceful. But 바카라사이트 university claims in a statement that 바카라사이트 first sit-in "resulted in assaults and injuries to members of staff".

Middlesex describes 바카라사이트 occupations as "illegal", but says it will take no action against those who protested lawfully.

In an open letter this week, a group of 18 publishers and editors warns that axing philosophy at Middlesex would be "disastrous for 바카라사이트 academic and intellectual life of 바카라사이트 country" and urges 바카라사이트 university to reconsider its plans.

At 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, six students who were suspended for taking part in an occupation in March over planned job cuts went before a disciplinary panel last week. They were fined and told to write letters of apology after charges of "injurious conduct" were upheld. More serious charges of "riotous" behaviour were dropped.

Meanwhile, at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London, members of 바카라사이트 University and College Union have voted to strike over plans to close courses and cut jobs.

And King's College London said it would avoid compulsory redundancies in its School of Arts and Humanities, where all academics had been put on notice of possible redundancy. A number of staff are in voluntary severance talks.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.