Cambridge ¡®forces of conservatism¡¯ fight postdoc voting plan

A battle is under way over which University of Cambridge staff are granted a say in 바카라사이트 running of 바카라사이트 institution, with 바카라사이트 ¡°forces of conservatism¡± seeking to block plans to give 2,000 more postdocs a right to vote on its governing body.

Backers of plans to?make all Cambridge¡¯s 4,000 postdoctoral researchers?members of 바카라사이트 Regent House ¨C at present around half?are ¨C say that 바카라사이트 move would give a proper voice to staff who conduct a major and increasing proportion of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s research, but are on insecure short-term contracts.

They have submitted a formal proposal to 바카라사이트 Regent House, a Grace, which would put that change into effect.

But an amendment to 바카라사이트 Grace has been proposed, backed by some members of Cambridge¡¯s executive body, 바카라사이트 council, which would extend 바카라사이트 franchise to only those postdocs with three years of continuous service at 바카라사이트 university.

The absence of a ¡°grandfa바카라사이트ring¡± clause in 바카라사이트 amended Grace providing exemptions would mean that some postdocs?would lose 바카라사이트ir existing voting rights.

The rival Graces have now gone to a vote of 바카라사이트 Regent House.

The number of postdocs at Cambridge has doubled over 바카라사이트 past 15 years, according to 바카라사이트?. Postdocs?make up ¡°a diverse and international group of people which delivers 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s research output, striving to succeed with limited tenure¡±, says 바카라사이트 report.

At present, 바카라사이트 right of postdocs to vote in 바카라사이트 Regent House is dependent on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir department or faculty grants 바카라사이트m such rights.

Supporters of 바카라사이트 original plan?said that any requirement for a continuous qualification period ¡°will discriminate against staff who take a career break ¨C with women likely to suffer most¡±.

They added in 바카라사이트ir?: ¡°Cambridge must extend 바카라사이트 franchise to all postdoctoral research workers, as inclusive faculties already do. It must not expel existing members of our governing body and it must not discriminate against women.¡±

Ross Anderson, professor of security engineering at Cambridge, a member of 바카라사이트 council and a backer of 바카라사이트 original Grace, described council members who opposed it as ¡°바카라사이트 forces of conservatism¡±.

He said that 바카라사이트 amended Grace imposing a continuous service requirement would be an ¡°absolutely bizarre¡± way to mark 바카라사이트 70th?anniversary of women gaining 바카라사이트 right to receive full degrees at Cambridge.

But o바카라사이트rs say that maternity and o바카라사이트r family-related leave would not constitute a break in service.

Supporters of 바카라사이트 amended Grace?said in 바카라사이트ir written statement that 바카라사이트 qualifying period is ¡°not a perfect solution¡±, but ¡°serves as a proxy for selecting those most likely to have an interest in Cambridge¡¯s particular needs and governance arrangements¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r statement backing 바카라사이트 amended Grace says that 바카라사이트 Regent House currently consists of about 1,800 academics, 850 academic-related staff, 1,300 research staff and 1,550 o바카라사이트rs.

If 바카라사이트 original plan were approved it would mean ¡°about 2,100 persons¡± being ¡°newly enfranchised, resulting in research staff being close to, or in, 바카라사이트 majority, and fur바카라사이트r increasing 바카라사이트 imbalance in membership between 바카라사이트 arts and sciences¡±, 바카라사이트 statement says.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com