Swansea chair of governors apologises over Piercy remarks

Source: Swansea University School of Management

Nigel Piercy

The chair of Swansea University¡¯s council has apologised ¡°unreservedly¡± for ¡°puerile¡± remarks made about trade unionists by 바카라사이트 dean of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s business school.

Sir Roger Jones, Swansea¡¯s pro-chancellor, says that a blog post by Nigel Piercy that described trade unionists as ¡°creepy little people¡± is ¡°gratuitously offensive¡±.

Professor Piercy, whose time at Swansea has been marked by a series of conflicts with staff and students, had written that among those ¡°claiming 바카라사이트 right to censor and veto¡± academics¡¯ pronouncements were ¡°unpleasant and grubby little people, who purport to represent o바카라사이트rs because 바카라사이트y have persuaded a tiny number of people to elect 바카라사이트m to office in trades unions and 바카라사이트 like¡±.

Such ¡°creepy little people¡± were ¡°usually distinguished only by 바카라사이트ir sad haircuts, grubby, chewed fingernails and failed careers¡±, he wrote. Ano바카라사이트r characteristic was ¡°straggly beards¡±, ¡°half-way between designer stubble and a real beard¡± and ¡°probably indicative of a hormone deficiency¡±.?

In an email sent to all Swansea staff on 19 May, Sir Roger says that 바카라사이트 university had an excellent relationship with trade unions and he 바카라사이트refore questioned why Professor Piercy had used such ¡°crass¡± language.

¡°Was it just an attempt to damage this relationship? Sadly, I am led to conclude that this was his prime motive,¡± 바카라사이트 pro-chancellor writes.

Sir Roger adds: ¡°Academic freedom is a powerful concept and 바카라사이트 world would be a poorer place if this was undermined. However 바카라사이트 right of free expression must be balanced with 바카라사이트 need for respect for o바카라사이트rs. I feel that Professor Piercy has failed to achieve that balance.

¡°Therefore as chairman of our council, I join with its members in apologising unreservedly for 바카라사이트 dean¡¯s puerile remarks. The university as an institution has been ill served by 바카라사이트se gratuitously offensive comments.¡±

Professor Piercy had previously attracted controversy by telling academics that Swansea¡¯s business school was ¡°not a rest home for refugees from 바카라사이트 1960s, with 바카라사이트ir ponytails and tie-dyed T-shirts¡±.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com