I have just caught up with the death of Magdalen. I know it was expected but I’m so incredibly sad to hear the news.
The university will do nothing about this. The administrators are weak i the face of these activists. It is pathetic and it makes a mockery of the whole system of academic freedom, intellectual challenge and vibrant and healthy debate.
I hate to say this, and am happy to hear some different viewpoints, but I have worked in Higher education (currently non-academic role) for 15 years and I am now keen to get out because the joy of the job has completely vanished. Universities, particularly the social sciences (which I’ve come to think of as pretty corrupt) are eating themselves. I am at the point of hoping the system starts to fall apart and something new is formed in its place.
The atmosphere seeps down to all levels. It has changed so much. I work in an entirely silent office of 30 people. People police their language constantly, we spend a ridiculous amount of time discussing diversity and inclusivity and I’ve been twice told off for being “inappropriate” at work. I was not being inappropriate - I was having a mild political disagreement with a colleague that we were both enjoying the discussion. My biologist friend has quietly left the LGBT group he was once heavily involved in because he knows how insane the whole Trans thing is, but can’t possibly raise it for fear of the pushback.
Sorry, I know this is about the dreadful RM and more specifically Magdalen but it is another confirmation of how terribly weak HE administration is.
RIP Magdalen x