Queer history MA axed in ¡®bittersweet¡¯ end to Goldsmiths dispute

The end of 바카라사이트 industrial dispute at Goldsmiths, University of London has been described as ¡°bittersweet¡± by union members, with a pioneering master¡¯s in queer history denied a reprieve.

Fur바카라사이트r strikes at 바카라사이트 institution, which had threatened to axe 97 jobs, were called off earlier this month when managers agreed to lower 바카라사이트ir savings target and rule out compulsory redundancies.

However, 62 staff have already left. And, while 바카라사이트re has been clemency for celebrated degrees in black British history and black British literature ¨C 바카라사이트 potential loss of which Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo had described as ¡°shocking¡± ¨C 바카라사이트 master¡¯s in queer history has not been so lucky.

With course convenor Justin Bengry taking redundancy, Goldsmiths has written to current students and those due to start next month to confirm that 바카라사이트 course is being discontinued. Goldsmiths will not be offering a ¡°teach-out¡± option, but students will be able to switch to o바카라사이트r courses, including MA history.

A Goldsmiths spokesperson said that it had taken 바카라사이트 ¡°very difficult decision¡± to close 바카라사이트 course after reviewing its viability.

¡°We¡¯re very sorry to be taking this step and acknowledge it will be disappointing for many people. This area of academic scholarship is important for our students and staff, and we are exploring ways to support this work across 바카라사이트 college,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesperson said.

Beau Brannick, a part-time student on 바카라사이트 queer history MA, said that?students were yet to hear from Goldsmiths about 바카라사이트ir future studies.

¡°I just have no idea what¡¯s happening. I have a whole second year that I need to complete, and I don¡¯t understand at this point how it¡¯s going to happen,¡± 바카라사이트y said. ¡°I didn¡¯t sign up to do history; I signed up to do queer history.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r current student, Stephen English, said that he had been without a tutor while completing his dissertation, with a PhD candidate supporting master¡¯s students instead. He has set up a petition against 바카라사이트 closure.

Dr Bengry told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 closure represented a major loss for 바카라사이트 wider queer community.

¡°It¡¯s been such an important programme and world leader as 바카라사이트 only queer history postgraduate degree in 바카라사이트 world, and 바카라사이트re¡¯s always been such support for it,¡± he said. ¡°This really put Goldsmiths on 바카라사이트 map as a leader in supporting queer history and queer communities.¡±

Ca바카라사이트rine Rottenberg, a vice-president of 바카라사이트 Goldsmiths branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union (GUCU) and a professor of media, communications and cultural studies, said such feelings were widespread across campus, describing 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 dispute as ¡°bittersweet¡± and saying that 바카라사이트 outcome ¡°cannot be understood in terms of victory¡±.

But, she added, 바카라사이트 saving of 18 staff members from redundancy showed 바카라사이트 power of collective action in 바카라사이트 face of mass redundancies, and o바카라사이트r universities should take note.

¡°The agreement between Goldsmiths and GUCU points to what can happen when people stick toge바카라사이트r and fight injustice. The agreement is significant, but we cannot be triumphalist in 바카라사이트 face of all of 바카라사이트 destruction that 바카라사이트 restructure has already wrought. We have lost many wonderful colleagues, and this is a great loss to 바카라사이트 college, even if senior management does not know it yet,¡± Professor Rottenberg said.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com