Sussex Not For Sale launches staff survey

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Sussex Not For Sale launched today a survey of Sussex university staff about the large-scale changes proposed by senior management. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the opinion among of those who keep the university going. If you are a member of staff at Sussex university, please fill out the form. It would also be great if you got your colleagues to do the same. http://www.sussexnot4sale.org.uk/staff_survey If you are a student, please ask your your tutors and lecturers to take part in the survey. -------------------- ADDITION 21. 2. 2008: Although the survey will continue until the beginning of next week, we have started to publish the comments respondents have made: http://www.sussexnot4sale.org.uk/node/47

Submitted by admin on Tue, 19/02/2008 - 13:39.

Have you noticed what's

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 20/02/2008 - 13:00.
Have you noticed what's happening to languages? Lost Russian a few years ago, now everything but French and Spanish are for the chop

This is really short sighted

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 20/02/2008 - 17:51.
This is really short sighted as well as being typically Eurocentric.

'Security'

Submitted by Josh Jones on Fri, 22/02/2008 - 11:10.
I've read all the responses to the survey posted so far. It's worth noting that while the majority of respondees are highly critical of the VC and his policies, there are also some critical of the sussexnot4sale movement's decision to oppose security as a research theme. What is our response to this? What exactly is our angle on the 'security as a research theme' issue, and how do we justify it?
pyropir's picture

Josh, I don't think it's

Submitted by pyropir on Fri, 22/02/2008 - 11:49.
Josh, I don't think it's 100% accurate to say that Sussex Not for Sale oppose security as a research theme, because we have not yet decided on concrete demands yet - Many members do oppose it, pretty much everybody thinks it is highly problematic, but there is diversity in the views that people hold. Also, the strongest criticism comes from Sussex lecturers - see for example here: http://blog.theasa.org/?p=52

Concur, Rephrase

Submitted by Josh Jones on Fri, 22/02/2008 - 18:11.
P., I accept your argument that SNFS does not necessarily oppose security as a research theme. However, the comments from staff remain as they are. There is clearly a perception that we are 'against' this research theme. I do not expect any one person to speak on behalf of the movement, and say whether this is so. I guess my question could be better phrased: Why might we wish to oppose the introduction of International Security as a research theme? I would like to better understand the issues involved, so any responses would be helpful. [Admin., please feel free to move this to the discussion board.]