Prof Jo Phoenix vs The OU - Employment Tribunal Thread 6

[ickky]

Started on 2nd October at Watford Employment Tribunal (Radius House, 51 Clarendon Rd, Watford WD17 1HP 01923 281750)

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URGENT CURRENT CASE - Public Access Request - J Phoenix - The Open University - 3322700/2021

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Abbreviations

JP - Jo Phoenix, Claimant (C)
OU - The Open University, Respondent (R)
J - Regional Employment Judge Young
P - Panel or panel member
BC - Ben Cooper KC, Counsel for C
JM - Jane Mulcahy KC, Counsel for R
OU Departments & Networks:
HWSRA - Health & Wellbeing Strategic Research Area
FASS - Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
SPC - Dept of Social Policy & Criminology
KMi - Knowledge Media Institute
GCRN - Gender Critical Research Network

OU witnesses

PB - Dr Paraskevi Boukli, Former Senior Lecturer Criminology, Deputy Head SPC 2021-22
IF - Prof Ian Fribbance Dean of FASS
MW - Prof Marcia Wilson, Dean EDI, 2020-23
CM - Caragh Molloy, Group People Director 2019-23
LD - Dr Leigh Downes, Senior Lecturer in Criminology (in SPC), Academic Lead for EDI FASS 2019-21
PK - Peter Keogh, Professor Health & Society, Member RSSH
CW - Dr Christopher Williams, Senior Lecturer History
KS - Kevin Shakesheff. PVC for Research and Innovation
DD - Dr Deborah Drake, Senior Lecturer Criminology, Head of SPC 2018-21
CT - Catherine Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
LW - Louise Westmarland, Prof of Criminology, Co-Deputy Head SPC, 2018-21, Current Head SPC
JD - John Domingue, Prof of Computing Science, Director KMi, 2015-22
SD - Shaun Daley, Head OU’s Resourcing Hub. Head Strategic Resources, Co-Chair OU’s LGBT+ Staff Network
HBC - Helen Bowes-Catton, Lecturer Social Research Methods
NS - Nicola Snarey, Assoc Lecturer Eng Language
NatS - Natalie Starkey, Outreach & Public Engagement Officer Sch Physical Sciences, 2019-22
CT - Cath Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
SJ - Samantha Jacobson, Employee Relations Case Manager
RH - Richard Holliman, Prof Engaged Research, Head School Environment, Earth & Ecosystem Sciences, 2019-22. Member of Investigation Panel investigating the C’s grievance

Witness for JP:

SE - Sarah Earle, Professor Modern History Uni of Oxford, Founding member GCRN

Tribunal Tweets - twitter.com/tribunaltweets

TT coverage so far - https://tribunaltweets.substack.com/p/professor-jo-phoenix-v-the-open-university

Prof Jo Phoenix Witness Statement (scroll to bottom of page and download)

jophoenix.substack.com/p/phoenix-v-open-university?sd=pf

Thread 1 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4905118-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-2nd-october-whispers-ben-cooper?page=1

Thread 2 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4913946-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-2?page=1

Thread 3 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4917480-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-3

Thread 4 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4918479-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-4

Thread 5 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4919223-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-5

It was a twenty minute talk (I posted a link upthread) and it was one small part of it, she wasn't going to go into a huge amount of detail about the background.

So academic freedom has limits according to LW. I wonder how she would feel if that rule was applied to her work?

LW - Deb is the best HOD you could possibly have.

So JDs member of staff is being called a transphobe because MRi hosts GCRN and JDs solution is to go after GCRN rather than the abusers and he's so thick he can't see that those attacking his staff member and those attacking GCRN are the same people and he is enabling and rewarding them.

LM: Deb as HoD ws dealing really really well with it, she's the best Hod you could get

[looking forward to meeting the paragon]

I know right?

LW - Deb is the best HOD you could possibly have.

What a paragon this woman must be.

I wouldn't hold out much hope. There was a bloke in an FBU LGBT+++ tee shirt yelling Nazi at us all at LWS Liverpool. Next to two signs - one calling us Terf cunts and the other Nazis. Such a charming chap.

Oblivious of course to the recent Inspectorate report into the bullying and harassment in the Fire Service.

Haha cross posted with @Mmmnotsure snap!

Interesting. It was the updated Athena SWAN guidance around 2020-21 which included a requirement for panel members to pledge allegiance to gender ideology that made me realise the sector was utterly captured. It was a laudable initiative, totally ruined by the ideologues. I am encouraged to hear sense is returning. Of course, many universities now record gender on student and HR records, so good luck producing the data and analysis for a sex-based action plan.

Gutted I am at work tomorrow so will miss the pleasure of Dr Drake.

I know, it beggars belief that these purportedly intelligent people just don't see this.

We've had "paramount," so, I'm sorry, "paragon" isn't enough. I'm holding out for DD being annointed described as a paraclete in DD's role as HoD.

BC: reads email. LM wrote - I am happy to tackle JP in person I don't want to open up wounds but I can't ignore this

LM: What JP said wasn't untrue, I just felt she wasn't giving all the context

St Deb the Divine, I can't wait for this.

BC: reads email LM to DD: confidentially cos I haven't told JP what it's about but I'm meeting with JP next week c things.

BC: You tell DD confidential stuff before meeting, and you don't tell JP. That's extraordinary

LM: No. not in these circumstances

😱She discussed it with LD before the meeting even after JP specifically asked what the meeting would be about. 😱Fuckinghell. What a great Manager!

Academics- whose job is supposed to be collating and analysing evidence in all its varying forms- seem surprised that a KC might do the same.
I think there has been a time slip, we have left science and gone back to Ancient Greece where Socrates and the lads thought that the way to discovery was debate.
First you get an idea perhaps in your dream or in that funny first 5 mins when you wake.
You tell your mates and over a few beers you debate whether it might be right.
No thought of collecting data or analysing observations. To talk and to persuade is all.

Oh this is excellent news. I wonder which fabulous woman or man achieved this below the radar, and whether they're a mumsnetter :)

LM: having a word with JP, as a friend, prof to prof. Didn't want to tell her before cos might cause anxiety.

Didn't tell Jo beforehand about the meeting re the video because might cause anxiety. So instead I broadsided her.

What she should have done, IF LD asked was to say the matter is in hand and that is it, no details. Incredible.

LM: didn't say that

BC: That's your words

LM: no it's not

BC: yes it is, in your statement
😂

In your statement - bingo

Bullshit Louise bullshit. Stop trying to lie and bully your way out of this.
God she's really pissing me off with her fake concern for JP.