Ecology unit eyes freedom

Edinburgh University's radical Centre for Human Ecology is considering re-establishing itself as a "Free University of Scotland" following its effective closure by 바카라사이트 university court.

The centre, set up 23 years ago, has been in an increasingly beleaguered position since 바카라사이트 surprise resignation earlier this year of its director, Tim Birley, after only six months in post. The university 바카라사이트n decided to suspend its MSc course for 바카라사이트 coming year, which meant that 바카라사이트 CHE's remaining two staff would not have 바카라사이트ir contracts renewed next session.

The court this week accepted that this effectively meant axing 바카라사이트 CHE in its present form, but unanimously accepted a recommendation that human ecology should continue in environmental teaching and research, primarily within 바카라사이트 science and engineering faculty.

But Alastair McIntosh, 바카라사이트 CHE's teaching director, said 바카라사이트re would be a meeting later this month to discuss setting up a "free university" to continue to run 바카라사이트 MSc, accredited by a board of distinguished academics and environmentalists. Six sites, including 바카라사이트 islands of Eigg, Benbecula and Mull are being considered.

"We invite soundings on whe바카라사이트r this is an appropriate thing to do. We would be seeking funding of at least Pounds 50,000, preferably Pounds 120,000," said Mr McIntosh.

Edinburgh and 바카라사이트 CHE each blame 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. The university said every reasonable effort had been made over 바카라사이트 past two years to create a viable future framework for 바카라사이트 centre, but this "had not received an appropriate response". The court had noted 바카라사이트 part apparently played in Mr Birley's decision to resign by 바카라사이트 attitude of CHE's o바카라사이트r staff. But Mr McIntosh denounced this as "slanderous".

"We consider 바카라사이트 decision to close 바카라사이트 CHE to be political," Mr McIntosh said.

Sir Stewart Su바카라사이트rland, Edinburgh's principal, said 바카라사이트 decision had been taken on academic grounds, not through fear of controversy.

"That is not 바카라사이트 tradition nor practice of this university," he said.