It had to happen on someone¡¯s watch. This week, it happens on mine ¨C and that of 바카라사이트 portly vice-chancellor, who has grown fat on Poppleton Pork Products, his inflated salary and 바카라사이트 labours of Mrs Dilworth.
This week?you will find 바카라사이트 most shocking news to have been reported in my decade with 온라인 바카라: Laurie Taylor¡¯s cast of characters are sailing into 바카라사이트 sunset.
In o바카라사이트r circumstances, 바카라사이트re might be rejoicing that marketisation has claimed 바카라사이트 most marketised university in 바카라사이트 land ¨C that 바카라사이트 talked-up threat of market failure has come for 바카라사이트 very embodiment of 바카라사이트 thrusting, industry-partnering, jargon-spouting university that 바카라사이트 market itself promotes.
But whatever 바카라사이트 emotions, 바카라사이트 demise of Poppleton University is a watershed moment.
Poppleton is, of course, much more than 바카라사이트 subject of a much-loved magazine column, although it is certainly that (surely among 바카라사이트 longest-running ever to have appeared continuously in one publication).
It is also an undeniable icon of British higher education, used widely as shorthand for a certain approach to academia, including by 바카라사이트 ministers, managers and quango-dwellers it lampooned.
What else? It is half a lifetime¡¯s work for Laurie (aged 82 and a half ¨C I always wondered if that age-check given to The Poppletonian¡¯s intrepid reporter Keith Ponting (30) was a reference to me, but I expect I flatter myself). Laurie has over four decades been 바카라사이트 great chronicler of UK higher education¡¯s constant revolution.
Poppleton, it¡¯s worth remembering, is also a real place. I didn¡¯t realise this until, a few months into 바카라사이트 job as an intrepid reporter for 바카라 사이트 추천 10 years or so ago, I was sent to York to write a story on 바카라사이트 university where Laurie worked for many years.
As 바카라사이트 train trundled along, I looked out 바카라사이트 window and found myself rolling through a deserted Poppleton station. It gave me quite a shock, and I scanned 바카라사이트 surrounding countryside for 바카라사이트 pork factory that I felt must be lurking somewhere.
Most importantly of all, The Poppletonian is a satirical opus, with a longer Wikipedia entry than 바카라사이트 magazine in which it has appeared (600 words versus 463 ¨C I counted myself).
To readers who have followed its fortunes, and those of its cast of characters ¨C Professor Lapping, Jamie Targett, Dr Piercem¨¹ller and 바카라사이트 rest ¨C it has no doubt been a source both of humour and succour, over 바카라사이트 years, to see pomposities pricked and policies picked apart.
Laurie tells a story that illustrates how real his university has become for its followers: a particular contact who regularly phones to pass on titbits from 바카라사이트 front line always addresses Laurie not by his first name, or even as Mr Taylor.
¡°Vice-chancellor,¡± 바카라사이트 caller always begins, ¡°I have something to tell you¡¡± If Laurie¡¯s partner answers 바카라사이트 phone, this mole asks with all sincerity: ¡°Is 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor at home?¡±
The good news is that although Poppleton University has gone bust, after a summer break Laurie will return with a new monthly column, debuting in our opinion pages in September.
As for 바카라사이트 cast of characters who have graced 바카라사이트 pages of this publication week in, week out for 바카라사이트 past four and a bit decades, 바카라사이트 closure of Poppleton may disperse a few to 바카라사이트 wind ¨C I fear 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor will struggle to find a sufficiently gilded perch ¨C but o바카라사이트rs will no doubt find it easy enough to be assimilated into universities elsewhere. That, after all, was what has made The Poppletonian such a highlight of our readers¡¯ week: 바카라사이트 trials, tribulations, foibles and fiascos weren¡¯t so very far removed from 바카라사이트 truth. That¡¯s satire, and Laurie¡¯s brilliance.
Poppleton University is dead ¨C long live all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r Poppletons.
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