Aberystwyth v-c faces chorus of digital disapproval

Source: Alamy

Petition: vice-chancellor April McMahon is facing calls for her resignation

Aberystwyth University¡¯s vice-chancellor has been 바카라사이트 subject of an online campaign to oust her from her post and an apparent hoax Twitter account set up in her name.

An online petition had attracted 761 signatures at 바카라사이트 time of going to press, amid concerns over falling student numbers and 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s league table position.

The petition cites big drops in Aberystwyth¡¯s domestic rankings since she was appointed vice-chancellor in 2011, as well as fewer applications and an alleged ¡°culture of fear¡± among staff.

It follows a similar petition , set up by Aberystwyth undergraduate Keiron O¡¯Shea, which attracted 550 signatures before it was closed in mid April.

Mr O¡¯Shea told 온라인 바카라 that he had decided to close 바카라사이트 petition to new signatories after a meeting with 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor and senior managers, who had provided ¡°strong and concise¡± answers to his questions. He said he now believed Professor McMahon was ¡°바카라사이트 right person for 바카라사이트 job¡±.

A university spokeswoman said Aberystwyth ¡°did not request for 바카라사이트 petition to be withdrawn¡± and had an ¡°open door policy¡± to discuss concerns. She said 바카라사이트 university could not respond to 바카라사이트 latest petition as it was posted anonymously.

Professor McMahon also appears to have been 바카라사이트 victim of a bizarre hoax on Twitter, according to 바카라사이트 university. At 바카라사이트 beginning of April, a profile purporting to be from 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor appeared on 바카라사이트 social networking site and began tweeting about a desire to communicate with staff and students, and to restart learning Welsh, without any apparent hint that 바카라사이트 account was a parody.

The Twitter account appears to have immediately attracted close to 1,000 followers, of whom many had Spanish language accounts ¨C suggesting that whoever created 바카라사이트 account may have bought followers.

But shortly after it was activated, 바카라사이트 account was suspended.

A spokeswoman said it had not been set up by 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor or 바카라사이트 university and that Aberystwyth had ¡°serious concerns regarding 바카라사이트 potential for misinformation to be provided¡±.

This is not 바카라사이트 first time Professor McMahon has come under fire on Twitter: last year an Aberystwyth man reportedly admitted setting up a .

And 바카라사이트 University and College Union last year complained that Aberystwyth was being run like a ¡°dictatorship¡± after 바카라사이트 suspension of two senior staff members at 바카라사이트 Aberystwyth Arts Centre, a department of 바카라사이트 university. The decision prompted a demanding 바카라사이트 pair¡¯s reinstatement.

Ucas figures show that 바카라사이트 number of students accepted at Aberystwyth had .

The most recent council minutes, from 21 March, show that compared with 바카라사이트 same time last year, although applications from international students were up 28.3 per cent. The minutes outline plans to ¡°refresh¡± courses, boost student employability skills and open a branch campus in London.

They also show that 바카라사이트 university is anticipating a budget deficit in 2014-15 and is currently running enhanced packages for staff taking voluntary severance, although a spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 university was expecting a ¡°small¡± surplus this year.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com