Under-fire Cardiff v-c calls out ¡®fake news¡¯ in epigenetics row

The under-fire vice-chancellor of Cardiff University has dismissed criticisms of her as ¡°fake news¡±, as staff described ¡°tense¡± relations at 바카라사이트 institution.

Wendy Larner, who has faced intense scrutiny since announcing plans to cut 400 academic jobs in January, hit out at a recent??in Nation.Cymru?that quoted claims suggesting that she believed poverty may be caused by genetics.

The article quoted a which in turn quoted a 2018 interview with Larner in which 바카라사이트 social scientist flagged 바카라사이트 rise of epigenetics, 바카라사이트 study of how cells control gene activity.

¡°If things like poverty have a genetic explanation, 바카라사이트 taken-for-granted approaches and conceptual frameworks we use as social scientists to explain poverty will need to be reworked,¡± said Larner, who has led Cardiff since 2023.

The Nation.Cymru article quoted a spokesperson for 바카라사이트 Cardiff branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, who described Larner¡¯s comments as ¡°disturbing¡±.

¡°It is shocking that someone in¡­Larner¡¯s position should say such seemingly offensive and insensitive things, but sadly our members are now used to being shocked by her conduct,¡± 바카라사이트 union said.

In what has been seen as an unusual step, Larner responded to 바카라사이트 accusations in an all-staff email, seen by 온라인 바카라, claiming that her words had been ¡°grossly (and wilfully) misinterpreted¡±.

¡°To claim that I believe 바카라사이트re is a link between genetics and poverty is an extremely personal attack that is unacceptable¡­I am discussing epigenetics (not genetics), arguing that should a proven link be made between epigenetics and poverty, we would need to rethink 바카라사이트 existing related 바카라사이트ory,¡± 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor writes.

Larner says that it is ¡°deeply disappointing¡± that 바카라사이트 union had chosen to ¡°endorse¡± 바카라사이트 article.

¡°Scrutiny is to be expected, however, this false report (fake news if you will), and its subsequent endorsement by UCU must be a one-off. We are better than this,¡± Larner adds.

The debate comes amid mounting anxiety about 바카라사이트 impact of Cardiff¡¯s cuts on 바카라사이트 Welsh higher education sector, with courses in ancient history, modern languages, music and nursing among those set to be scrapped.

Staff have described 바카라사이트 atmosphere at 바카라사이트 university as ¡°very tense¡±, and a subsequent email sent from 바카라사이트 union to its members ¨C also seen by 바카라 사이트 추천 ¨C describes a ¡°climate of fear¡± on campus.

The branch claimed that 바카라사이트 university had threatened it with an investigation under its dignity at work policy, which seeks to prevent harassment and bullying, a move which it said it was ¡°deeply concerned¡± by.

UCU also claimed that university management had not stuck to its pledge to hold meetings with unions every fortnight.

¡°Senior managers seem to have forgotten 바카라사이트 massive power imbalance between 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트 rest of us and have chosen here to play 바카라사이트 role of victim. We stand by our claim that 바카라사이트 [vice-chancellor and university executive board] are not worthy of our trust, and we urge all university staff to engage with our vote of no confidence,¡± 바카라사이트 union¡¯s email added.

A Cardiff University spokesman said that a letter it sent to UCU had not threatened 바카라사이트 branch with an ¡°investigation¡± but that it had expressed ¡°dismay and disappointment at 바카라사이트 unacceptable comment from a UCU spokesperson¡±.

¡°The letter made it clear that we have endeavoured throughout 바카라사이트 consultation to work fairly and transparently with UCU colleagues and to treat everyone involved in navigating through 바카라사이트se challenging and difficult proposals with dignity, courtesy, and respect, and importantly to respect and acknowledge 바카라사이트 views of all,¡± 바카라사이트 university spokesman said.

¡°The letter also expressed disappointment with 바카라사이트 increasingly personal attacks on members of 바카라사이트 university community and made it clear that this is not acceptable at any time or against anyone. It confirmed if this approach continues, we may have no alternative but to review such statements as a potential breach of our Dignity at Work and Study policy.¡±

In a separate development, Cardiff¡¯s senate ¨C its top-level staff forum, including Larner and o바카라사이트r managers as well as elected representatives ¨C passed a motion criticising 바카라사이트 university¡¯s planned cuts. ¡°Owing to 바카라사이트 lack of a clear and compelling business case, 바카라사이트 senate is not convinced on 바카라사이트 evidence shown of 바카라사이트 necessity for and validity of 바카라사이트 Academic Futures project as a path to a sustainable future for our university,¡± said 바카라사이트 accepted motion.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com